An Omani co-pilot is being investigated over an alleged attack on the captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073 during its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew intervened, according to reports.

Attack and emergency landing

Fakti.bg, citing the Associated Press, reported that 182 people were aboard a Boeing 737: 174 passengers and eight crew members. DTNext, in an opinion article, described the plane as carrying 170 passengers, most of them Israeli. The reports do not explain the difference in the passenger totals.

The co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit. Fakti.bg reported that the aircraft began a sharp descent and that Machchhar, who was injured, managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and other crew members subdued the suspect, and the plane was stabilized before landing in Tabuk.

Fakti.bg, citing ABC News and people familiar with the investigation, reported that al-Hammami was cooperating with authorities and had said he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel. That account remains part of the investigation.

Questions about his aviation background

Reports cited by Fakti.bg said Oman Air removed al-Hammami from flying duties for a year in 2024 after extremist material was found, then assigned him to an administrative role. A regional diplomatic source cited by CNN, as reported by CafeBiz, said he had been removed from pilot training because of extremist views and transferred to another position.

CafeBiz also reported that an Israeli official said al-Hammami had worked for Flydubai for eight months. A LinkedIn profile attributed to him listed seven years at Oman Air, ending in February 2025, and employment at Royal Air Maroc from June 2025 to January 2026; it did not mention Flydubai. A source cited by CafeBiz said the profile belonged to the co-pilot, but the profile was later deleted.

CNN’s review of social media material attributed to al-Hammami, as described by CafeBiz, found videos featuring figures associated with al-Qaeda. Two posts appeared on the LinkedIn profile about nine hours after the incident. It was not clear who posted them or whether they had been prepared in advance.

UAE-led investigation continues

The UAE’s justice minister opened an inquiry on Oct. 1 into whether the incident involved terrorist activity or prior planning, state news agency WAM reported. Fakti.bg reported that al-Hammami and the injured captain were transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, where Emirati authorities are leading the investigation. Israeli officials are expected to take part in questioning, while Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United States and Oman are also assisting, according to the report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone Islamist radicalization and that investigators were examining whether he acted alone or had been directed by someone else. Flydubai temporarily suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while the investigation continued.