Incident Overview
On 30 September 2026, passengers aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv found themselves confronting a violent crisis when the co‑pilot, identified as Hamam al‑Hammami, launched an axe attack against captain Smit Machchhar.
The assault caused the aircraft to lose altitude, forcing the crew to make an emergency descent. The captain, wounded, managed to regain control after a brief window, and the flight diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Australian Investigation
The Australian Federal Police have opened a formal inquiry into al‑Hammami’s ties to Australia. Sources confirm that he entered the country on a student visa in 2014, studied between 2015 and 2017, and had his visa cancelled in 2019 after failing to maintain enrollment.
Counter‑terrorism officials are examining whether the former student was radicalised while in Australia, a path that could explain the intent behind the cockpit attack.
Broader Context
Al‑Hammami’s employment history shows he was removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns over extremist views, though he later re‑enrolled in a different role with the national carrier. He also completed a distance‑learning degree in aviation management from Buckinghamshire New University in 2023 without undertaking pilot training.
The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has described the incident as a “terrorist act”, and Saudi authorities are currently questioning the co‑pilot following his arrest upon landing.
Authorities in Israel and the UAE have lodged formal statements, while the flight’s captain received immediate medical attention before being transferred to Abu Dhabi.
