A pilot suspected of assaulting a colleague aboard a flydubai flight has admitted that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, according to media reports citing unidentified sources [1].
The incident occurred Wednesday aboard a flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv that issued an emergency signal and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. According to the same report, the suspect Hamam Al Hammami was transferred Thursday from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates.
The reported admission adds a motive element to an incident that has already triggered investigations on multiple continents and prompted the carrier to suspend its Israel route. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported admission, and no charges have been announced.
Flight Incident and Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia
A flydubai aircraft en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv issued an emergency signal on Wednesday and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, according to the report. The airline later confirmed that a fight broke out between the pilots during the flight.
Flight-tracking data showed the plane diverted over Jordanian airspace toward Saudi Arabia and descended approximately 17,400 feet within minutes [3]. The flight carried more than 170 people, most of them Israeli, according to passenger counts cited in multiple accounts [2][4].
Suspect Identified as Hamam Al Hammami; Prior Security Concerns Reported
The report did not specify how Al Hammami was permitted to continue working for the airlines or what security screening measures were applied. Authorities have not publicly released further details on the suspect's background or possible charges.
Separately, the UAE prosecutor general's office said investigators had determined that the co-pilot began executing his plan inside the flight deck of flight FZ1073 and attempted to seize control of the aircraft in an attempted terrorist act [5][6]. Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe before passengers and crew intervened [7].
Crew and Passenger Response
Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun, a passenger, said he pulled back on the controls to level the plane until a third pilot took over, according to the report. Hayoun, described in news accounts as a 50-year-old sewage pumping company owner, told investigators he rushed into the cockpit, put the attacker in a chokehold, and pulled him out [8].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane as it was approaching Israel [2]. The flight's captain, Smit Machchhar, fought back, and some passengers subdued the attacker, the report stated.
No injuries or fatalities were reported after the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Capt. Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where he remained in stable condition, according to the Indian embassy [9]. The prime ministers of Israel and India publicly praised him for his actions [10].
Israeli officials said they would ramp up security checks on pilots flying into the country following the incident [12]. flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel after the emergency landing [13].
Conclusion
The reported admission of intent to crash the aircraft in Israel marks a significant development in the investigation of Wednesday's incident, which has already prompted diplomatic tensions and heightened security measures. The suspect's transfer from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates positions UAE authorities as central to the ongoing investigation, though no charges have been filed and no timeline for legal proceedings has been announced.
The incident has also raised questions about aviation security and screening procedures governing pilots. The report that Al Hammami had been previously identified as a security risk yet continued to work for regional airlines has drawn scrutiny from intelligence and law enforcement officials cited in the media. It remains unclear what specific screening measures were applied or how he was permitted to continue flying.
References
- Suspect in Flydubai Onboard Attack Admitted Intent to Crash Plane in Israel – Reports. https://sputnikglobe.com/20261003/suspect-in-flydubai-onboard-attack-admitted-intent-to-crash-plane-in-israel--reports-1124829061.html
- Too early to say whether Iran involved in Dubai-Tel Aviv flight attack, Israeli PM says. https://bbc.com/news/articles/cqgmrm7xd8wyo
- Stabbed Indian Pilot Foils Crash Plot By Crazed Omani Co-Pilot As Jet Plunged 18,000 Feet. https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/midair-horror-flydubai-pilot-reportedly-stabbed-israeli-news-says-incident-treated
- Israel-bound flight diverted after death-dive and pilot stabbing: As it happened. https://www.rt.com/news/646469-russian-ukrainian-pilots-brawl/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
- Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says. https://bbc.com/news/articles/c61wv7lgex13o
- Co-Pilot Used Crash Axe in Attempted Terrorist Attack on Israel-Bound Flight, UAE Alleges. https://theepochtimes.com/world/co-pilot-used-crash-axe-in-attempted-terrorist-attack-on-israel-bound-flight-uae-alleges-6099125
- Co-Pilot Used Crash Axe in Attempted Terrorist Attack on Israel-Bound Flight, UAE Says. https://theepochtimes.com/world/co-pilot-used-crash-axe-in-attempted-terrorist-attack-on-israel-bound-flight-uae-says-6099125
- Israeli Passenger Recounts Subduing Co-Pilot, Pulling Jet Out of Dive. https://theepochtimes.com/world/israeli-passenger-recounts-subduing-co-pilot-pulling-jet-out-of-dive-6097301
- Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight? https://bbc.com/news/articles/cje3r3z7g0zzo
- Netanyahu and Modi Hail Indian Flydubai Pilot as Hero. https://www.ntd.com/netanyahu-and-modi-hail-indian-flydubai-pilot-as-hero_1176137.html
- Australia investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country. https://bbc.com/news/articles/cxly4nym57q9o
- Israel to Ramp Up Pilot Checks After Flydubai Scare. https://www.ntd.com/israel-to-ramp-up-pilot-checks-after-flydubai-scare_1176082.html
- Flydubai suspends Israel flights. https://www.rt.com/news/646531-flydubai-suspends-israel-flight/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
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