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Flydubai co-pilot planned attack before hire, Israeli officials say

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Neutral summary

On September 30, on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and tried to take control of the plane. According to Israeli officials, he planned the attack before being hired by the airline and had previously flown to Tel Aviv but abandoned his intentions at that time. Passengers and crew intervened to stop the attempt, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The number of people on board is reported as 174 by El Economista and 182 by The Guardian. Early indications suggest the co-pilot acted alone, without ties to terrorist organizations or foreign governments, according to NBC News and CBS News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a comprehensive security review of foreign civil aviation operating flights to Israel. Al-Hammami previously studied at universities in the UK and Australia but did not complete his courses, which The Telegraph says allowed him to avoid a full background check. Australian authorities have opened an investigation into his links, and Al Qaeda has called for copycat attacks following the incident.

How it was framed

Outlets: 62. Countries: 19. Facts in the shared core: 6.

Publication timeline

  1. · The Globe and Mail (outlet profile)

    Morning Update: Pilot attacked fellow pilot in Israel-bound flight. Also in today’s edition: Upcoming space launch and a bet on prediction markets

  2. · BBC (русская служба) (outlet profile)

    Власти ОАЭ: второй пилот рейса Flydubai напал на командира с аварийным топором. Что еще известно. Второй пилот рейса Flydubai, летевшего из Дубая в Тель-Авив, пытался совершить теракт и напал на командира воздушного суд…

  3. · ABC News (outlet profile)

    FlyDubai captain describes fight for his life after attack on flight to Tel Aviv. The Indian pilot who was attacked by his co-pilot during a FlyDubai flight opened up and described the attack and his fight back Saturday.

  4. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    ‘War isn’t over’: Al Qaeda calls for 'copycat attacks' after flydubai incident

  5. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at British university. Hammam al-Hammami, believed to be the perpetrator of the FlyDubai hijacking, was educated in the UK

  6. · Sydney Morning Herald (outlet profile)

    Flydubai co-pilot spent time at Victorian university. ASIO and Australian Federal Police are now joining the investigation after the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a passenger plane, spent time at a Victorian…

  7. · Daily Nation (outlet profile)

    How hero Kenyan cabin crew stepped in during Flydubai mid-air emergency. David Kimotho and John Muchina, rushed to the aid of the wounded pilot.

  8. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    Indian hero pilot reveals new details of FlyDubai cockpit attack: ‘Felt big blow to back of my head’. Indian pilot is now recovering at a hospital in Abu Dhabi

  9. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    Crew of flydubai demanded release of co-pilot after he attacked Smit, claim flyers. In a shocking incident aboard a flydubai flight, the co-pilot viciously attacked the pilot with a crash axe, igniting a heroic response…

  10. · Haaretz (outlet profile)

    The flydubai security failure: Who vetted an Omani pilot flagged for extremism? | Haaretz Explains. The suspected hijacking exposed a gap in Israel's aviation-security system: authorities can obtain foreign crew data, b…

  11. · Financial Times (outlet profile)

    Australian authorities probe Flydubai attacker’s links to the country. Recriminations among various governments have escalated after the attempted hijacking of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv last week

  12. · France 24 (outlet profile)

    Who are the mystery pilots who successfully landed endangered Flydubai flight 1073?. A passenger on Flydubai flight 1073 has described the actions of on-duty crew members who rushed into the cockpit to stabilise and lan…

  13. · Euronews (outlet profile)

    FlyDubai captain said he had “one more fight left in me” and opened cockpit door. FlyDubai hero captain Smit Machchhar described to Israeli prime minister Benjanim Netanyahu how the attack started and how he managed to…

  14. · Readovka (outlet profile)

    Второй пилот FlyDubai, напавший на капитана, помолился незадолго до нападения Второй пилот попросил разрешения помолиться, а капитан самолета Смит Мачхар старался не оборачиваться на коллегу из уважения. Через пару мину…

  15. · O Globo (outlet profile)

    Austrália investiga vínculo de copiloto que atacou comandante de voo Dubai-Tel Aviv com o país. Autoridades da Austrália investigam os vínculos do copiloto da Flydubai acusado de atacar o comandante durante um voo entre…

  16. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Flydubai hijacker called for women to be 'stomped on' in religious rants while studying at British university. Hamam al-Hammami, 29, severely wounded captain Smit Machchhar using the onboard crash axe as he tried to tak…

  17. · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)

    Flydubai: What happens when a plane plunges 17,000 feet?. A flight instructor recreates the Flydubai jet’s near-vertical 17,000 foot dive in a simulator.

  18. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    Mum on horror Flydubai flight faced heartbreaking choice as plane plunged 14,000ft. A mum travelling with her four daughters has described the terrifying scenes inside the Flydubai FZ1073 flight as it suddenly plunged t…

  19. · Haaretz (outlet profile)

    Israel's National Security Council warned the Transportation Ministry was failing to screen foreign flights last year, source says. A security source said the Transportation Ministry assumed responsibility for screening…

  20. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    UAE had shared details about FlyDubai flight with Israel, including pilots' names and nationalities. Regional officials say authorities in the United Arab Emirates shared with Israel a list of passengers and crew ahead…

  21. · Al-Monitor (outlet profile)

    Like a 'vertical roller coaster': Simulating flight FZ1073's sudden plunge. By Ben Makori SHERFIELD ON LODDON, England, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Flydubai's flight FZ1073, which plunged 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds before be…

  22. · Fox News (outlet profile)

    Iran could move shadow war in a dangerous direction, experts warn on back of two possible terror attacks. Two suspected plots near RAF Fairford and aboard a FlyDubai flight raise questions about Iran's covert attac…

  23. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    Did Israel ignore warnings? UAE shared info about flydubai crew & Omani co-pilot. The UAE shared passenger and crew information with Israel before a FlyDubai flight whose Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captai…

  24. · CBS News (outlet profile)

    FlyDubai co-pilot was likely lone wolf, Israeli investigators believe. The FlyDubai​ alleged attempted hijacking was likely a lone wolf attack, an early investigation by Israel shows, according to people familiar with t…

  25. · Times of India (outlet profile)

    'Not a single post': BJP attacks Congress over 'silence' on flydubai pilot Smit

  26. · The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)

    Flydubai hijacker's years in Australia under scrutiny as authorities probe link to country - report. Sources familiar with the case said the pilot, an Omani citizen, stayed in Australia on a student visa issued in 2014.…

  27. · The Hindu (outlet profile)

    BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s ‘silence’ on flydubai incident, Captain Smit’s bravery. Rajya Sabha MP and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi terms the lack of a statement from the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha…

  28. · Dawn (outlet profile)

    Like a 'vertical roller coaster': Simulating flydubai flight FZ1073's sudden plunge. Flydubai’s flight FZ1073, which plunged 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds before being levelled out and landing safely, would have felt…

  29. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    Al Qaeda issues horror call for attacks on US and Israeli flights after FlyDubai 'hijack attempt'. A newsletter produced by pro-al-Qaeda outlet Al-Yaqin, appears to praise the 30 September FlyDubai incident and calls fo…

  30. · CNews (outlet profile)

    «Un dernier combat à livrer» : le pilote du vol FlyDubai décrit le moment où il a réussi à ouvrir la porte du cockpit. Lors d'un entretien téléphonique avec le Premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahou, le pilote d…

Factual core

  • The incident involved a FlyDubai flight.
  • The co-pilot attempted to take control of the aircraft during the attack.
  • The flydubai pilot, Hamam Al-Hammami, is accused of attempting to hijack a plane flying to Israel.
  • The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe during the flight on Wednesday.
  • Australia is investigating the co-pilot's connections to the country.
  • The flight was en route to Israel.

Full methodology →

In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 4, 2026

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