An Omani co-pilot named Hamam al-Hammami is suspected of attacking the captain and attempting to seize control of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Israeli officials report that initial investigations indicate al-Hammami acted alone without ties to any terror group or government, though the inquiry remains open. Authorities are examining whether he attempted to disable both engine fuel switches after failing to initially take over the Boeing 737 aircraft. The incident ended with an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew subdued al-Hammami following his attack on Captain Smit Machchhar using a cockpit crash axe.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight (flight FZ1073) from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled an emergency while over Jordanian airspace and was subsequently diverted to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The initial distress call raised concerns of potential hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets as a precautionary measure. However, it later emerged that the emergency signal resulted from a physical altercation between the plane's two pilots rather than any form of unlawful interference. The flight, carrying around 150 people predominantly Israeli citizens, landed safely without further incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations over the event as security officials confirmed the situation was under control and would become clearer upon landing in Saudi Arabia.
Written for “Israel Bound Flight Diverted” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 299 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 56643 · logged 2026-10-05
New reports suggest that the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and trying to seize control of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv probably acted alone.
asserted
pilot → suggest → Aviv
An Israeli official told CNN that information gathered during the investigation so far suggested Hamam al-Hammami acted alone.
uncertain
Hammami → tell → investigation
Another Israeli source said Israel had found no known link between the suspect and any group or government, while stressing that the investigation was still ongoing.
asserted
investigation → say → suspect
The development comes as investigators examine whether al-Hammami made a further attempt to bring down the Boeing 737 after his initial attack on Captain Smit Machchhar failed.
asserted
attack → come → Machchhar
An investigation by Italian newspaper
Corriere della Sera, cited by Ynet News, said investigators were examining whether the co-pilot moved the aircraft's two engine fuel switches from “Run” to “Cutoff” after taking control of the plane.
asserted
pilot → cite → plane
According to the report, al-Hammami allegedly pushed the aircraft into a steep descent after disabling the autopilot, potentially attempting to crash it in the Saudi desert after passengers and crew began thwarting his attempt to seize the aircraft.
uncertain
passengers → accord → aircraft
What happened inside the cockpit
The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
asserted
incident → happen → Aviv
Al-Hammami allegedly attacked Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
uncertain
Hammami → attack → aircraft
Despite being wounded, Machchhar managed to activate the mechanism that opened the cockpit door, allowing cabin crew and passengers to enter and help subdue the co-pilot.
asserted
crew → wound → pilot
The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
asserted
aircraft → make → Tabuk
The UAE attorney general has described the incident as an attempted “terrorist act”.
asserted
general → describe → act
Investigations are being conducted by authorities in the UAE, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
asserted
Investigations → conduct → UAE
US president Donald Trump had earlier suggested that al-Hammami could be linked to Iran, saying it was “based on what I’m hearing”.
uncertain
I → suggest → what
He did not provide details.
asserted
He → provide → details
Israeli sources now say they have not identified a link to any group or government, although the investigation has not concluded.
asserted
investigation → say → government
Questions over his past
Al-Hammami, 29, is an Omani national who had previously worked for Oman Air.
asserted
who → work → Air
According to CNN, he was removed from his previous job after concerns about his extremist views.
uncertain
he → accord → views
He later joined Flydubai and had been working there for around eight months.
asserted
He → join → months
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separately said al-Hammami had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, based on information gathered during questioning.
asserted
Hammami → say → questioning
He did not provide further details.
asserted
He → provide → details
The investigation has also raised questions over aviation security and the vetting of foreign flight crews.
asserted
investigation → raise → crews
CNN reported that the names of all passengers and crew had been provided to Israeli authorities before the flight took off.
asserted
flight → report → authorities
Israel's tax authority confirmed receiving the list, but the transportation ministry said its protocols did not include checking the names of flight crew members.
asserted
protocols → confirm → members
The issue is particularly sensitive because Oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
asserted
Oman → have → Israel
Netanyahu has said Israel had longstanding arrangements aimed at preventing pilots from countries without diplomatic ties from flying into the country and described the case as exposing a “loophole”.
asserted
Israel → say → loophole
Israel has since ordered a review of security procedures for foreign civil aviation following the incident.
asserted
Israel → order → incident
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