UAE Attorney-General: Omani flydubai pilot targeted Ben-Gurion Airport in attempted suicide attack

What happened aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30?

On September 30, flydubai flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attempted to hijack it. UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Hammami planned to use the aircraft in a suicide attack targeting a passenger terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport. The allegation made the incident far more serious than a routine cockpit confrontation.

The crisis began when Hammami attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe. A second flydubai captain was aboard to operate the return flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai. After seeing the cockpit door open and close repeatedly, that captain entered using the security code. He confronted Hammami, with several passengers and one crew member assisting.

The group eventually regained control and diverted the aircraft to a safe landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The UAE investigation found that Hammami had met flydubai’s professional and security requirements when hired. The investigation remains ongoing, and the UAE Public Prosecution said it would announce further findings.

What is an attempted suicide attack using an aircraft, and how is it different from a conventional hijacking?

An attempted suicide attack using an aircraft is an effort to deliberately turn the plane into a weapon while accepting, or intending, the attacker’s own death. Its purpose is usually to cause mass casualties or strike a chosen target. That makes the aircraft itself central to the planned attack, rather than merely a vehicle for escape or coercion.

The article reports that Hamam al-Hammami planned to target a Ben-Gurion Airport passenger terminal. UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Hammami wanted the highest possible number of casualties and drew inspiration from the September 11 attacks. The alleged plan therefore differed from a conventional hijacking, where an offender seeks control or leverage without necessarily planning a deliberate suicide strike.

This distinction mattered because the reported objective was not simply to redirect flight FZ1073. Investigators described a premeditated attack involving the aircraft and a crowded terminal. The investigation is still ongoing, so these details remain allegations reported by the UAE authorities. The Public Prosecution will announce any new findings.

How long had the pilot worked in aviation, and which airlines had employed him before flydubai?

The article does not state Hammam al-Hammami’s complete aviation career length. It does establish that he worked for Oman Air for four years, then held a short-lived position with Royal Air Maroc in 2025, before joining flydubai in January. Therefore, four years is the clearly stated period, while his total aviation experience cannot be calculated from the available details.

His employment history shows movement through several airlines. Oman Air employed him first for four years. Royal Air Maroc employed him briefly in 2025. Flydubai hired him in January, although the article does not specify the exact year in that sentence. The UAE investigation said he met flydubai’s professional and security requirements when hired.

The career timeline matters because investigators were examining how someone with aviation experience reached a cockpit position. The airline said it was unaware of his intentions or extremism, according to the attorney-general’s statement. The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional career-duration figure is provided in the article.

How did the other captain, passengers, and crew regain control of the cockpit and bring the aircraft to a safe landing?

Control was regained through a rapid response inside the aircraft. A flydubai captain was onboard to operate the return flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai. After seeing the cockpit door open and close repeatedly, he entered using the security code. This gave another qualified pilot access to the cockpit during the confrontation.

The returning captain confronted co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami after Hammami had attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe. Several passengers and one crew member assisted the captain. Together, they eventually overcame the attacking co-pilot and restored control of the cockpit. The article does not describe the exact restraint method or identify the assisting passengers.

Once control was recovered, the flight did not continue to Tel Aviv. It diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe landing. The response depended on cockpit access procedures, the presence of another captain, and help from people aboard. The UAE investigation is continuing, so further details may emerge.

Why was the flight diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, instead of continuing to Tel Aviv?

Flight FZ1073 was diverted because the attempted hijacking created a serious onboard security emergency. The article reports that co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe. Continuing toward Tel Aviv after such an incident would not have matched the immediate need to secure the aircraft and resolve the threat.

A second flydubai captain entered the cockpit with the security code after observing the door open and close repeatedly. He confronted Hammami, supported by several passengers and one crew member. After they regained control, the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely. The article does not give a more specific reason for choosing Tabuk.

The diversion shows the crew’s response after the crisis changed the flight’s priorities. The safe landing ended the immediate airborne danger and allowed the authorities to handle the alleged attacker. UAE investigators are still examining the incident. The UAE Public Prosecution said it will announce any new findings.

What were the September 11, 2001 attacks, and why might they influence someone planning to use an aircraft as a weapon?

The September 11, 2001 attacks were a coordinated terrorist assault in which hijacked commercial aircraft were used as weapons in the United States. They became a defining example of how an aircraft can be seized and deliberately directed toward targets, causing extensive loss of life. That basic historical fact explains why the attacks remain relevant to aviation security.

In this case, Hamam al-Hammami allegedly told investigators that he wanted to cause the highest possible number of casualties. Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Hammami drew inspiration from September 11 and planned to target a passenger terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport. The article also reports that Hammami said the idea influenced his decision to pursue an aviation career.

The reported connection matters because it links the alleged plan to an earlier aircraft-based attack model. It does not establish that Hammami had accomplices; he claimed to have planned and acted alone. The UAE investigation remains ongoing, and the Public Prosecution will announce further findings.

How do airlines use pilot qualification checks, background screening, cockpit security, and crew procedures to prevent one person from taking control of a commercial aircraft?

Airlines use several overlapping safeguards to reduce the chance that one person can take control of a commercial aircraft. Qualification checks assess whether a pilot meets professional standards. Background screening examines available security information. Cockpit security limits access, while crew procedures provide a planned response when someone behaves dangerously. No single measure is perfect, so the layers work together.

The article provides a concrete example of these layers during the attempted hijacking. A second captain noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly, then entered using the security code. He confronted the attacking co-pilot, with several passengers and one crew member assisting. That response helped restore control and led to a safe landing in Tabuk.

The case also shows the limits of screening. UAE investigators said Hammami met flydubai’s professional and security requirements when hired, and the airline was unaware of his intentions or extremism. The investigation continues. Its findings may clarify whether existing checks or procedures should change, but the article does not report any new rule.

Key Facts:

📌 Hammami allegedly attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe.

📌 Passengers and crew helped confront the attacking co-pilot.

📌 Flight FZ1073 landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

📌 Investigators described the alleged attack as premeditated.

📌 The planned target was a Ben-Gurion Airport passenger terminal.

📌 Hammami allegedly sought the highest possible number of casualties.

📌 Hammami worked for Oman Air for four years.