A co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe, according to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general.
What Happened on the Flight
The incident occurred about two and a half hours into the flight, when the aircraft began a sharp descent.
The plane initially signaled a general emergency with squawk 7700, then switched to squawk 7500, indicating unlawful interference or hijacking.
Passengers reported a sudden, violent drop—like a rollercoaster—lasting 20 to 30 seconds. After the drop, the plane briefly stabilized before plunging again.
Passengers rushed to the cockpit. Israeli woman Tali Manes raised the alarm, prompting her husband Zvika and three others—Yaniv Hayun, Dr. Shota Musayev, and Asaf Rajuan—to enter.
Yaniv Hayun said the attacker was trying to destroy instruments to disable the plane. He described putting the attacker in a chokehold and pulling him outside the cockpit.
Hayun then took control of the plane’s flight controls. He said the aircraft began to level out. A second pilot then took over from there.
The plane safely landed in Saudi Arabia, with no fatalities reported.
Key Facts from the Incident
- The attacker was a co-pilot, an Omani national, named Hamam al-Hammami by multiple media outlets.
- The weapon used was a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies.
- Passenger Almog Itali described the descent as sudden and intense, with a massive G-force.
- Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed and taken to a hospital in the UAE, where he is in stable condition.
- The Indian embassy confirmed the pilot is recovering well and expects full recovery.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker called out, ‘Kill me, kill me!’ before being subdued.
- Netanyahu stated the man was suicidal and had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
Background: Security and Training
Crash axes are standard in aircraft cockpits for emergency use. Their presence raises questions about how such a weapon could be accessed and used.
Hamam al-Hammami previously worked at Oman Air. US media reported he was removed from flight training due to concerns over radical views and was reassigned to a non-pilot role.
He completed a three-year distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK and graduated in 2023. The university confirmed he did not complete any pilot training at the institution.
There is no official confirmation of his identity or background from the UAE or Israeli authorities.
Investigations and Official Responses
The UAE has launched an investigation into whether the incident was linked to terrorist activity or broader extremist motives.
UAE state media reported that the inquiry is ongoing and aims to determine the full circumstances and motives behind the attack.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that the alarm was raised by Tali Manes, an Israeli woman on board.
Netanyahu said the incident could have resulted in a disaster comparable to 9/11, but passengers and crew prevented it.
Why This Incident Matters
This is one of the few confirmed cases of a cockpit attack on a commercial flight in recent decades.
It highlights the vulnerability of aircraft in the face of individual acts of violence, even when operating on a route with high security.
The incident underscores the importance of crew training, passenger response, and emergency protocols in preventing catastrophic outcomes.
It also raises concerns about the background of aviation personnel, especially those with histories of radicalization or disciplinary issues.
Limitations and Open Questions
There is no official confirmation of the attacker’s identity from UAE or Israeli authorities.
While media reports name Hamam al-Hammami, this has not been verified by official sources.
The motive behind the attack remains under investigation. While Netanyahu linked it to Islamist radicalization, no formal evidence has been released.
It is unclear whether the incident was isolated or part of a broader pattern of extremist activity.
There are no reports of prior incidents involving similar actions on international flights.
What to Watch Next
Authorities are expected to release a formal report on the incident in the coming weeks.
Investigations may include interviews with the crew, passengers, and former colleagues of the accused.
Public attention may grow as details emerge about the background of the individual involved and the security protocols on international flights.
The Indian government has praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the attack, calling it a testament to professionalism under extreme stress.
More information may be shared through official statements from the UAE, Israeli, and Indian governments.
For updates on the investigation, readers can follow the original report at BBC News.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Flydubai Boeing 737-800 (A6-FDN).jpg by Mohammadreza Farhadi Aref, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image source · License
