Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain With Axe in Terrorist Attack Attempt

Conflict60 sourcesOct 3, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 55/100

The Story

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, an act described as a terrorist attack by United Arab Emirates authorities.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, approximately two and a half hours into the flight, causing the plane carrying over 170 people to plunge 17,000 feet. Passengers and crew members subdued the co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allowing two reserve pilots to land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami had previously been banned from flying by Oman Air due to concerns over radical ideological views and was moved to an administrative role.

He also completed a three-year distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University, graduating in 2023, though he did not undertake pilot training there. UAE investigators are examining the full circumstances, motives, and any potential links to extremist groups. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the attacker had undergone Islamist radicalization and attempted to crash the plane.

The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, recounted his efforts to open the cockpit door to allow passengers to intervene. Investigations are ongoing, with Israeli security officials traveling to the UAE to question al-Hammami.

What they agree on

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight attacked the captain with a crash axe.
The incident is described by UAE authorities as an attempted terrorist attack.
Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot.
The flight was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The co-pilot is identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national.

Where they split

Some sources, including The Wall Street Journal and The Daily Wire, report that Oman had banned the co-pilot from flying due to concerns about radical views, while other sources do not explicitly state this prior ban.
The Wall Street Journal and The Daily Wire report that the co-pilot struggled to find a wife, with details of his social media posts regarding this being included in their coverage.
The specific number of people on board the flight varies slightly, with some sources stating over 170 passengers and crew, while others report 182 people on board.
Coverage varies on the depth of vetting by Flydubai, with some articles raising questions about security failures and how the co-pilot was hired despite previous concerns.