Investigations into a dramatic mid-air incident involving a flydubai passenger aircraft bound for Tel Aviv have widened, with authorities examining the background of the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and allegedly attempting to take control of the plane. The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation erupted in the cockpit.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, stabbing him and using an emergency crash axe, before passengers and crew intervened. The United Arab Emirates has classified the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and launched a formal investigation. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Attorney General had ordered a specialised Public Prosecution team to investigate the circumstances and causes of the incident.
The investigation is now looking at the co-pilot's training, employment history and possible links to other countries as authorities attempt to establish the motive behind the incident. Suspect allegedly intended to crash plane into Ben Gurion. Two senior US officials and an Israeli source familiar with the investigation told ABC News that investigators believe the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft plunging more than 20,000 feet within minutes before recovering and eventually diverting to Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials have also said the suspected attacker appeared to be trying to take control of the aircraft. According to accounts of the incident, the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the co-pilot while other crew members worked to stabilise the aircraft.
The intervention of passengers was crucial to preventing what could have become a major aviation disaster. One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, has said he helped pull the suspect away from the controls before assisting in bringing the aircraft back under control. Questions over co-pilot’s previous history have also emerged, with reports claiming that he had previously attracted security concerns in Oman.
The investigation has also shifted towards the alleged history of the co-pilot, identified in several reports as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Reuters reported that New Zealand police confirmed the suspect had completed part of his flight training in New Zealand between November 2018 and May 2019 through a UK-based company that no longer operates there.
All passengers survived, with reports putting the number of people on board at more than 170. Flydubai later confirmed that everyone aboard was safe. Captain Machchhar received medical treatment and was subsequently cleared to return to the UAE. The incident has raised broader questions about cockpit security and the UAE investigation is expected to determine whether the suspect acted alone or had outside direction.
Key points
- The UAE authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and have urged the public and media to rely on official information rather than unverified claims.
- US President Donald Trump has said he personally believes Iran was responsible for the incident, but US Vice President JD Vance has indicated that there is no conclusive evidence at this stage establishing such a link.
- Flydubai temporarily suspended its flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv at the request of the authorities, causing significant disruption to passengers travelling between the UAE and Israel.
