CNN: Flydubai Pilot Planned To Attack Israel's Main Airport
- 6.10.2026, 8:46
The investigation is ongoing.
The Flydubai pilot who injured his colleague and took control of the plane may have been planning an attack on Ben Gurion Airport—Israel’s main international airport. This is reported by CNN reports, citing an Israeli official and a source familiar with the situation.
The individual in question is Hamam al-Hammami—the co-pilot of the aircraft, who is suspected of attempting to hijack Flight FZ1073. According to the sources, his actions were thwarted by Captain Smith Machhar and several passengers, who were able to subdue him and regain control of the plane.
The Israeli official and the source noted that Israel is receiving updates from the United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation. At the same time, the investigation is in its early stages, and questions regarding the suspect’s true intentions remain unanswered.
When Israel detected a commercial aircraft on September 30 that was transmitting a signal indicating a possible hijacking, Israeli authorities scrambled fighter jets as a precautionary measure. At the same time, it remains unclear why al-Hammami—if his target was indeed an airport in Israel—attacked the captain while flying over Saudi Arabian airspace.
The investigation is ongoing
The UAE is investigating the attempted hijacking to determine the suspect’s motives and figure out how he managed to circumvent security measures.
The UAE’s Attorney General Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi stated that the co-pilot attempted to seize control of the plane by attacking the captain with an emergency axe. He called the hijacking attempt a “terrorist act.”
According to CNN, al-Hammami likely acted alone. Israel currently has no information regarding his ties to any terrorist organization that might have planned, financed, or organized the attack.
Earlier, sources reported that the suspect had been fired from his previous job as a pilot for Oman’s national airline due to concerns about his extremist views. According to one source, he was subsequently transferred to an office position.
At the same time, aviation experts note that screening pilots falls under the responsibility of local authorities, airlines, and security services. Rules and procedures may vary by country.
Israel’s Ministry of Transport stated that its procedures do not include screening the names of crew members, although this information is shared with the Israel Tax Authority for potential inquiries by security services. The ministry also noted that the procedures do not take into account the threat posed by a pilot.
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