Who is the mystery co-pilot behind the Flydubai attack?

Investigation Continues Into Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Cockpit Incident

A Flydubai co-pilot has been named in media reports as the individual involved in an assault on the captain of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The reports identify the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. No official confirmation of the individual’s identity or any prior background details has been issued by UAE, Omani, or airline authorities.

The United Arab Emirates has described the October 2026 incident on Flight FZ1073 as an attempted terrorist operation. Investigators continue to examine the motive and any possible additional connections. The aircraft carried 174 people and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the cockpit confrontation.

Reported Background of the Co-Pilot

Three people with knowledge of the matter, including a Gulf diplomat and a Western diplomat, told the Associated Press that the co-pilot is Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen born in the UAE to a Syrian mother. The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Gulf diplomat stated that investigations are examining whether the co-pilot acted alone or had connections to any groups.

CNN, citing a source and an Israeli official, reported that al-Hammami spent several years in the Emirates. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that Omani authorities had previously barred the co-pilot from flying in Oman due to concerns about alleged extremist views. The specific nature of those alleged views has not been detailed publicly, and it remains unclear whether Oman shared any information with other countries or airlines.

CNN also quoted a regional diplomatic source stating that al-Hammami had been removed from flight training over similar concerns and reassigned to another position. A LinkedIn profile matching the name indicated seven years at Oman Air until February 2025, followed by a period at Royal Air Maroc from June 2025 to January 2026. No official records confirming these employment details have been released.

No public information has been provided on the vetting or hiring process that allowed the co-pilot to join Flydubai, a Dubai-based carrier, or on any cross-border information sharing among Oman, the UAE, and other aviation authorities.

Sequence of Events on the Flight

Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai at 7:05 a.m. local time on October 1, 2026, bound for Tel Aviv and climbed to 34,000 feet, according to Flightradar24 data. Roughly two hours later, the aircraft began an unplanned descent. Tracking data showed a drop of more than 17,000 feet in approximately two minutes, followed by a climb and another descent.

The captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, later stated that the co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit with an emergency axe. Machchhar described being wounded on the cockpit floor while the aircraft descended. He told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital in Abu Dhabi that he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and subdue the co-pilot. The aircraft leveled at approximately 15,000 feet. Its transponder was set to code 7500, indicating unlawful interference.

Two reserve pilots on board took control and diverted the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed at 9:45 a.m. local time. Saudi authorities stated both pilots received hospital treatment before being transferred to Abu Dhabi after medical clearance.

UAE Official Statements

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi stated on October 4 that investigators had determined the co-pilot carried out what he described as a terrorist act. According to al-Shamsi, the co-pilot used the aircraft’s emergency crash axe to attack the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. On October 3, al-Shamsi directed investigators to determine whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction from others.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash posted on X that the incident highlighted ongoing regional security concerns. The UAE has not publicly stated a motive or confirmed whether investigators believe the co-pilot acted alone.

Current Status of the Investigation

Abu Dhabi prosecutors are leading the inquiry, reviewing the circumstances, motive, and any connections to other individuals. Al-Shamsi noted that UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE. He stated that investigators are examining technical evidence, physical evidence, and digital evidence, with final results to be announced after procedures are complete.

Flydubai flights to Israel remain suspended during the investigation. No additional official statements on the co-pilot’s identity or employment history have been issued by Flydubai, Omani aviation authorities, or UAE regulators.