Date: October 3, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
The co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Flydubai passenger aircraft during a flight to Israel had previously been flagged over concerns about extremist views, according to a report that has raised new questions about how he was cleared to operate the flight.
The co-pilot was involved in the dramatic incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30, when the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. The Boeing 737 made a sudden and severe descent over Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit. Passengers and crew eventually subdued the co-pilot, while reserve pilots travelling on the aircraft helped bring the plane under control and land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday that investigators had determined that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out what authorities described as a “terrorist attack.” According to the prosecutor general, the co-pilot used a crash axe kept inside the cockpit to attack the captain and then attempted to take control of the aircraft. The investigation into his motives and whether anyone else was involved remains ongoing.
The co-pilot has been identified by sources familiar with the investigation as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Omani authorities have not publicly commented on the incident, and UAE officials had not initially confirmed his identity. The suspect was detained after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia and was subsequently transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where the UAE is leading the investigation.
New information about the co-pilot's background has intensified questions about whether warning signs were missed before he was assigned to the flight. The Associated Press reported that he had previously been flagged over concerns related to extremist views. Other reporting has also raised questions about his aviation career and previous training.
Royal Air Maroc confirmed to Reuters that the suspect underwent three months of training with the airline in 2025 but that his subsequent application to work for the carrier was rejected. The airline did not provide details about the reason for the rejection. Reuters also said it could not independently verify professional and social media accounts reportedly associated with the co-pilot.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously said the co-pilot appeared to have undergone what he described as radical Islamist indoctrination. Netanyahu said the assessment was based on information gathered from the suspect's personal information, but he also cautioned that authorities had not reached final conclusions about the motive. Israeli security officials said their initial assessment was that the co-pilot was likely acting alone, although the investigation was continuing.
The United Arab Emirates has launched a formal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, the suspect's motives and whether the attack was connected to terrorism, prior planning or direction from others. Israeli investigators are expected to participate in the UAE-led investigation, according to an Israeli government official cited by Reuters.
The incident began more than two hours into the flight, when the aircraft suddenly lost thousands of feet of altitude. Flight-tracking data reviewed by Reuters showed the plane falling more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds during its most severe descent. The aircraft later issued emergency signals, including a code indicating unlawful interference, before diverting toward Tabuk.
Inside the cockpit, the captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, was seriously injured during the confrontation. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the co-pilot. One passenger helped stabilize the aircraft before two off-duty Flydubai pilots on board took control and completed the landing.
Machchhar has since been praised for his actions during the emergency. Speaking from a hospital in Abu Dhabi, he said he realized that he had to get back on his feet because otherwise passengers could lose their lives. He credited the passengers and other crew members with playing an important role in preventing a disaster.
The incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation security procedures, particularly the screening of pilots operating flights to Israel. Israel has restrictions involving pilots from countries with which it does not have diplomatic relations, and Netanyahu has questioned how an Omani national came to be serving as co-pilot on a flight bound for Tel Aviv. Israel has said it plans to review and strengthen screening procedures for pilots arriving on international flights.
Flydubai has said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation and that it is cooperating with the authorities. The airline's chief executive, Ghaith Al Ghaith, previously described the event as a safety incident and said it was important to allow investigators to establish the facts.
The UAE's decision to characterize the incident as an attempted terrorist attack represents a significant development in the investigation, but authorities have not publicly established a complete motive or disclosed evidence showing that the suspect was directed by another person or organization. Israeli officials have also said they have not identified Iranian involvement in the incident.
The investigation is expected to examine the co-pilot's personal and professional history, his previous aviation training, the circumstances surrounding his employment and flight assignment, and whether any warning signs were overlooked during the screening process. Authorities in the UAE and Israel are continuing to investigate while the suspect remains in custody.