UAE attorney general brands flydubai cockpit attack an 'attempted terrorist act'

The UAE’s attorney general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said on Saturday that the co-pilot on flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, formally classifying the incident as an attempted terrorist act. State news agency WAM carried his statement; it was the first such description from Emirati authorities.

The attack took place on Wednesday, September 30, aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv service, which was carrying 172 passengers and crew. The aircraft plunged 14,000ft during the altercation. Despite serious injuries, captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a small group of passengers, crew and a reserve pilot to overpower him and steady the plane. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities.

Reports identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. The Indian Express, citing The Guardian, reported he had been removed from Oman Air flying duties over concerns about his views, reassigned to an administrative post, and later hired by flydubai.

Flydubai itself has described the incident as an “altercation” and said it could not comment further while the investigation continues. Al Shamsi said investigators were still establishing the full circumstances, motives and any wider links, and completing technical examinations of physical and digital evidence. Captain Machchhar, who remains in an Abu Dhabi hospital, spoke to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi by phone on Friday, saying: “In that moment I was fighting for my life.”

Sources: https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/03/co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight-attempted-to-carry-out-terrorist-act-uaes-attorney-general-says/ | https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-pilot-with-axe-attempted-terrorist-attack-says-uae/article71539920.ece | https://indianexpress.com/article/world/flydubai-flight-co-pilot-attacked-indian-captain-axe-uae-probe-10905021/