The United Arab Emirates has described an attack by a FlyDubai co-pilot on the captain of an Israel-bound flight as a “terrorist attack”, saying the co-pilot used the aircraft’s cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of the plane. The incident occurred on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The flight went into a sharp descent during the confrontation before passengers and crew intervened. The aircraft was eventually diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The co-pilot has been identified by people familiar with the investigation as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. The identification was reported by Reuters based on sources who were not authorised to speak publicly. The UAE authorities have said the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit and tried to seize control of the aircraft. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the incident, including the suspect’s motive and whether he had any links to extremist organisations.

The attack caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly, creating a potentially serious emergency for the people aboard. The captain, Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, was injured during the confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing people outside to enter and help subdue the co-pilot. A reserve FlyDubai pilot was also among those who assisted in stabilising the situation. The aircraft subsequently landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was initially detained by Saudi authorities.

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The latest reports have also raised questions about the co-pilot’s previous employment history. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman because of concerns that he had adopted extremist views. He was subsequently employed by FlyDubai, although it remains unclear what information was available to the airline during its recruitment and vetting process. The UAE investigation is examining how he came to be operating as a co-pilot on an international flight despite the earlier concerns.

The incident has also drawn attention to arrangements governing flights into Israel by airlines from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with the country. Israel and Oman do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, and Israeli authorities have said they have agreements with foreign carriers concerning pilots who are citizens of countries without diplomatic ties with Israel. The circumstances surrounding al-Hammami’s presence on the flight are therefore among the issues investigators are examining.

The UAE prosecutor general said investigations were continuing into the circumstances, motive and any possible connections linked to the incident, with authorities examining physical and digital evidence. The UAE is leading the investigation, with authorities in other countries also involved. While the UAE has characterised the incident as a terrorist attack, investigators have not publicly established a motive or confirmed any organisational link involving the co-pilot. Further findings are expected to clarify how the attack was carried out and whether anyone else was involved.

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