UAE Calls Flydubai Cockpit Axe Attack Attempted Terrorism

DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general on Saturday described the actions of a flydubai co-pilot on a flight bound for Tel Aviv as an attempted terrorist attack, saying the man used a crash axe to assault the captain and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The statement came three days after the Sept. 30 incident on flight FZ1073, which carried 174 passengers and crew before an emergency diversion to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and sought to take over the flight controls. A reserve pilot on board helped regain control after the plane dropped roughly 17,000 to 18,000 feet. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker, who was later handed over to UAE authorities by Saudi officials. Machchhar was treated for injuries.

The co-pilot has been identified by multiple sources, including diplomats and media reports, as Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national. UAE officials have not publicly confirmed the name. Omani authorities have not commented. Reports indicate al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about alleged extremist views, though those details remain unverified by investigators.

Al Shamsi stressed that the probe is still underway to determine motives, possible connections and any technical or digital evidence. No final conclusions have been released, and authorities have not linked the man to any specific group. Israeli officials had earlier suggested the episode appeared to be an attempt to crash the plane.

The flight was one of the regular routes established under the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel. The episode has prompted renewed scrutiny of pilot screening procedures across Gulf carriers, especially for routes into Israel amid ongoing regional tensions. Flydubai has said it is cooperating with the investigation but has released few additional details.

Sources familiar with the inquiry told news outlets that investigators are examining whether al-Hammami acted alone. No evidence of outside coordination has been presented so far. The UAE is leading the inquiry, with technical examinations and witness statements still being reviewed.

The incident has also highlighted the limits of current cockpit security measures. The crash axe is standard emergency equipment kept in the flight deck for use in accidents. Its use as a weapon underscores vulnerabilities that airlines and regulators have long sought to address.

Passengers described chaos during the sudden descent before order was restored. One passenger was photographed with bloodstains on clothing after helping restrain the co-pilot. The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where initial questioning occurred before the suspect was transferred.

As the investigation proceeds without a confirmed motive, questions remain about how al-Hammami was cleared for duty on an international flight despite earlier restrictions in his home country. UAE officials have pledged to release findings once all procedures are complete.