--- title: "Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Attacking Captain on Board Flight to Israel" url: https://noti.group/flydubai-co-pilot-accused-of-attacking-captain-on-board-flight/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-03T09:25:31.000Z updated: 2026-10-03T10:32:43.187Z id: 6c6d977b-312b-41e5-aa6f-901ce7c95962 source: "Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/3/who-is-the-mystery-co-pilot-behind-the-flydubai-attack?traffic_source=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/flydubai-co-pilot-accused-of-attacking-captain-on-board-flight/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Attacking Captain on Board Flight to Israel A co-pilot has been accused of attacking a captain on board a Flydubai flight carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv. A Flydubai co-pilot has been accused of attacking the captain on board a flight bound for Israel, sparking concerns about pilot vetting and aviation security. The incident occurred on Wednesday on Flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly used an emergency axe to attack Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national. The United Arab Emirates has described the incident as an attempted "terrorist operation. However, there is no official confirmation of the co-pilot's identity or his motivations for the attack. According to media reports, the suspected co-pilot was identified by several sources as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national who had previously been barred from flying in his home country due to concerns about alleged extremist views. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with officials working to determine whether the co-pilot acted alone or had any connection to extremist groups. Details have emerged about the co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing a Flydubai plane in Dubai last week. According to reports, al-Hammami was born in the UAE to a Syrian mother and is an Omani citizen who spent several years in the Emirates. His background has raised questions about his previous aviation career and whether warning signs were ignored before he joined the low-cost carrier based in Dubai. Concerns had been raised earlier by Omani authorities, which reportedly barred al-Hammami from flying in their country due to concerns that he held extremist views. However, it remains unclear what those alleged views were or if Oman informed other countries about its concerns. Al-Hammami's employment history has also come under scrutiny, with reports suggesting he was removed from flight training at some point and reassigned to another position. A LinkedIn profile bearing his name appears to confirm this, stating that he spent seven years at Oman Air before leaving in February 2025. The profile further reveals that al-Hammami joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left the airline just six months later, in January 2026. The exact circumstances surrounding his departure from these airlines are currently unclear. Flight-tracking data revealed a dramatic descent of over 17,000 feet in just two minutes before the plane began to climb and descend again. A violent struggle had erupted between the pilots, with the co-pilot turning on the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, and attacking him with a knife. Machchhar, who was seriously injured during the assault, later described his harrowing experience from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi. He told authorities that as he lay wounded on the cockpit floor, he could feel the plane plummeting towards the ground, prompting him to think it was his last chance to act. In a desperate bid to save himself and others, Machchhar managed to drag himself to the door of the cockpit and open it, allowing passengers and crew members to rush in and overpower the co-pilot. The UAE's Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi revealed on Saturday that investigators have made a significant breakthrough in their inquiry into the Flydubai incident. According to al-Shamsi, the co-pilot was responsible for carrying out what he described as a terrorist act" against the captain inside the cockpit. The investigation has established that the co-pilot used the aircraft's emergency crash axe to attack the captain and attempted to take control of the plane's controls. A crash axe is typically stored in the cockpit as a tool for pilots to use in emergencies, such as cutting through debris or wreckage. Prosecutors are now examining the circumstances surrounding the attack, including its motive and any possible connections to other individuals or groups. The UAE has not yet publicly disclosed whether they believe the co-pilot acted alone or was part of a larger scheme. As the investigation continues, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash emphasized the need for continued vigilance in the fight against extremism. In a statement on social media, he noted that the latest incident serves as a reminder that the region's struggle against extremist ideologies is far from over. UAE judicial authorities assert their jurisdiction over the incident due to the aircraft's registration and flag, citing UAE law as applicable even outside national territory. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on uncovering motives, connections, and technical aspects through examinations of physical and digital evidence. Flydubai flights to Israel remain suspended until further notice. The outcome will be announced once all necessary procedures are completed. --- Source: [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/3/who-is-the-mystery-co-pilot-behind-the-flydubai-attack?traffic_source=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/flydubai-co-pilot-accused-of-attacking-captain-on-board-flight/