Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked captain in hijacking attempt, NZ Herald
- On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv suffered an in-flight hijacking attempt when a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with...
- Captain Machchhar stated that the attack began after the co-pilot asked for time to pray.
- During the assault, Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft lost approximately 5,180 meters of altitude in the span of a minute.
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv suffered an in-flight hijacking attempt when a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe. Captain Smit Machchhar sustained severe wounds while the Boeing 737 plummeted more than 17,000 feet in under a minute before passengers and crew intervened to overpower the attacker and force an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, NZ Herald reported.
Assailant Attacks Co-Pilot During Emergency Altitude Loss
Captain Machchhar stated that the attack began after the co-pilot asked for time to pray. The assailant then struck him in the back of the head. My first thought was that there was catastrophic damage to the aircraft and something is not right,
Machchhar said, as reported by NZ Herald. But then after that the blows kept coming one after the other. That’s when I realised that it’s not the aircraft, it’s the other guy who was in the cockpit with me.
During the assault, Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft lost approximately 5,180 meters of altitude in the span of a minute. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door. This allowed passengers, including Israeli traveler Yaniv Hayoun, and the Emirati crew to rush inside, subdue the co-pilot, and regain control of the flight, according to accounts gathered by the UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, as cited by NZ Herald.
Investigations Into The Omani Co-Pilot
The suspect has been identified in multiple reports as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates. UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that initial findings indicate the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act and tried to take control of the aircraft, NZ Herald reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the suspect underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.
Several international outlets reported that Omani authorities had previously barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns regarding extremist views. ABC News also reported that law enforcement officials found extremist materials in his possession while he was a trainee.
International Background In New Zealand And Australia
Police and educational institutions in New Zealand and Australia have confirmed aspects of the suspect’s background. New Zealand Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson confirmed that al-Hammami had spent time in New Zealand, stating that authorities are reviewing his time in the country, RNZ reported. Captain Machchhar also completed early flight training in New Zealand 18 years ago with Mainland Air, according to RNZ.
In Australia, RMIT University in Melbourne confirmed that al-Hammami was enrolled as a student at its campus but left before completing an engineering qualification, The Guardian reported. The Australian Federal Police announced that the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the AFP, Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, is investigating the man’s links to Australia.
Passengers Return Home as Flydubai Suspends Route
Following the emergency landing at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, passengers were eventually cleared to travel home. The first repatriation flight left the UAE shortly before 11 p.m. and landed in Tel Aviv just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Ben Gurion International Airport website. El Al was expected to fly passengers from Dubai to Israel on Sunday, while Flydubai suspended its regular route between Dubai and Tel Aviv pending the ongoing multi-country investigation led by the UAE, as reported by The Guardian.