An Omani co-pilot named Hamam al-Hammami, who attacked his Indian captain Smit Machchhar on a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv in September, allegedly planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport. Al-Hammami chose flydubai because it operated flights to Israel and had researched airlines flying to Tel Aviv before applying for the job. During the attack, al-Hammami used an emergency crash axe; however, Machchhar fought back and called for help, leading off-duty pilots on board to take control of the aircraft and land it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after losing 16,000 feet of altitude in about 30 seconds.
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 from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled an emergency over Jordanian airspace and was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The plane carried around 150 passengers, mostly Israeli citizens. Initially, concerns about a possible hijacking prompted the Israeli air force to scramble fighter jets as a precautionary measure.
However, after landing safely in Tabuk, it emerged that the emergency signals were triggered due to a physical altercation between the two pilots rather than a hijacking attempt. The incident did not result in any injuries among passengers or crew. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, held urgent consultations with security officials regarding the diversion.
The commercial flight had taken off from Dubai and was en route to Tel Aviv when it began transmitting emergency signals shortly after takeoff. Following a brief period of uncertainty, the aircraft successfully landed in Saudi Arabia without further incident.
Written for “Israel Bound Flight Diverts Due To In…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 305 other(s) covering the same event.
The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight allegedly chose the airline because it operated flights to Israel and planned to crash an aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport, according to Israeli media reports citing details from his interrogation.
uncertain
it → accuse → interrogation
Hamam al-Hammami, who is in custody in the United Arab Emirates, allegedly intended to kill Indian captain Smit Machchhar, continue Flight FZ1073 normally, and obtain landing clearance before deliberately crashing the aircraft into a building or another plane at the airport.
uncertain
who → intend → airport
The plan, according to the reports, was designed to delay detection until the aircraft was close enough to its target that authorities would have little time to intervene.
uncertain
authorities → accord → time
Israeli media reported that al-Hammami planned to seize control while the flight was over Jordan as it approached Israeli airspace.
asserted
it → report → airspace
If he could not reach Ben Gurion Airport, he allegedly considered targeting a skyscraper in Tel Aviv or a US military installation in Jordan.
uncertain
he → reach → Jordan
Co-pilot allegedly chose flydubai for its Tel Aviv flights
Fresh details reported by Israeli outlets suggest the alleged plot may have predated al-Hammami’s employment with flydubai.
uncertain
plot → choose → flydubai
A report cited by The Jerusalem Post said al-Hammami had researched airlines flying to Tel Aviv before applying to flydubai.
asserted
Hammami → cite → flydubai
“I looked into which airline flies to Tel Aviv.
asserted
airline → look → Aviv
That’s why I chose flydubai.
asserted
I → ’ → flydubai
I planned it even before I was accepted,” he reportedly told investigators.
uncertain
he → plan → investigators
The Jerusalem Post separately reported, citing an Israeli source familiar with the interrogation, that al-Hammami said he had researched airlines operating Tel Aviv routes and chose flydubai as a result.
asserted
he → report → result
Reports also said he had flown to Ben Gurion Airport several times after joining the Dubai-based carrier and used a June visit to gather information for the alleged attack.
asserted
he → say → attack
He reportedly intended to carry out the plan in July but abandoned it at the last moment because one of the crew members on that flight was a friend.
uncertain
one → intend → flight
Captain fought back after cockpit attack
The alleged plot unravelled on Sept 30 after al-Hammami attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit with an emergency crash axe.
asserted
Hammami → fight → axe
Machchhar later said the co-pilot had asked to pray shortly before the assault.
asserted
pilot → say → assault
“The blows kept coming.
asserted
blows → keep → ?
I realised that it’s not the aircraft; it’s the other guy who was in the cockpit with me,” Machchhar said while recounting the attack.
asserted
Machchhar → realise → attack
Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing crew members and others aboard the flight to intervene and restrain the co-pilot.
asserted
members → suffer → pilot
Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling as passengers later took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
asserted
pilots → travel → Tabuk
Reuters reported that the aircraft had lost more than 16,000 feet of altitude in about 30 seconds during the incident.
asserted
aircraft → report → incident
Machchhar is recovering after the attack and has spoken to both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident.
asserted
Machchhar → recover → incident
Security scrutiny widens after attack
The case has also triggered questions over how al-Hammami was cleared to fly to Israel.
asserted
Hammami → widen → Israel
Officials familiar with the case have said he had earlier been removed from flying duties in Oman over concerns about extremist material or views.
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he → say → material
The Associated Press and other international outlets have reported that authorities are now examining how those concerns were handled before he later joined flydubai.
asserted
he → report → flydubai
Israeli authorities have, meanwhile, ordered a review of security arrangements for foreign civil aviation after the incident.
asserted
authorities → order → incident
Investigators in the UAE and other countries continue to examine whether al-Hammami acted alone and whether he had links to any extremist organisation.
asserted
he → continue → organisation
Reuters reported that no evidence of Iranian involvement had emerged, while the wider motive and possible external links remained under investigation.
asserted
motive → report → investigation
The Aporia
