Co-pilot accused of trying to hijack Flydubai plane probably acted alone, Israeli sources say

Investigators See No Clear Evidence of Wider Plot in Flydubai Cockpit Attack

Earthguardiansonline.com – Israeli officials believe the co-pilot accused of attacking a fellow crew member and attempting to take control of a Flydubai aircraft likely acted without assistance, though investigators are still trying to establish why the incident happened and whether any outside connections existed.

The aircraft, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a violent confrontation in the cockpit. The case is being examined by authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed.

An Israeli official said information gathered so far points to a lone suspect. A second Israeli source said Israel had not identified a connection between the accused co-pilot and any organization or government. Both cautioned that the assessment remains preliminary while the investigation continues.

Authorities Examine Alleged Attempt to Take the Controls

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot tried to seize control of the plane after assaulting his colleague with a crash ax, an emergency tool carried on many aircraft. Al Shamsi described the alleged attempted takeover as a terrorist act.

During the confrontation, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, dropping thousands of feet within minutes. Captain Smit Machchhar, despite suffering injuries, was able to unlock the cockpit door and alert passengers and cabin crew. People on board then entered the cockpit and helped restore control of the aircraft.

The episode underscores the importance of cockpit access procedures, crew coordination and swift intervention during an in-flight emergency. Commercial flights rely on multiple layers of safety systems, but an attack involving a flight crew member creates an especially serious and unusual threat because of that person’s access to the flight deck.

Questions Remain Over Motive and Possible Radicalization

The suspect has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel believes al-Hammami had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, citing personal information obtained during ongoing questioning. Netanyahu did not provide further details about that information.

“underwent Islamist radical indoctrination”

In remarks made soon after the attack, US President Donald Trump said the suspect might have had a connection to Iran, referring to information he said he was hearing at the time. No additional evidence was provided publicly, and Israeli officials have said they do not presently know of a link to a government or group.

Investigators will likely focus on the suspect’s personal history, employment background, communications and online activity as they seek to distinguish between an individual act and any possible wider network. Establishing motive is often essential in determining whether an incident should be treated as an isolated attack, an ideologically driven act or something linked to others.

Employment History and Online Activity Under Review

Sources familiar with the case said al-Hammami was removed from a previous role at Oman’s national airline last year amid concerns over extremist views. He had worked at Flydubai for about eight months at the time of the alleged attack.

A LinkedIn account using the name Hamam al-Hammami listed seven years of employment with Oman Air, ending in February 2025. The account then stated that he joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. A source said the profile belonged to the Flydubai co-pilot involved in Wednesday’s incident.

The account was later deleted. Around nine hours after the emergency, a post appeared on the profile featuring an image of a former al Qaeda leader. It remains unclear who made the post or whether it had been scheduled before the incident.

Royal Air Maroc said al-Hammami took part in a three-month training period with the airline in 2025 during its pre-employment process but was ultimately not hired. The Australian Federal Police is also examining his connections to Australia and said it would provide information when appropriate.

Multi-Country Inquiry Continues

The involvement of authorities across several countries reflects the international nature of commercial aviation investigations. The United Arab Emirates is examining the conduct of one of its airline employees, Israel is investigating an alleged attack on a flight headed to its territory, and Saudi authorities are reviewing events surrounding the emergency landing.

For passengers and the wider aviation industry, the central questions are how the confrontation developed, what warning signs may have existed and whether any procedures need to be reviewed. The aircraft avoided catastrophe after the captain, cabin crew and passengers acted during the emergency, but investigators have not yet released a full account of the sequence of events.

Officials have emphasized that the inquiry is ongoing. For now, the available assessment from Israeli sources is that the alleged attacker appears to have acted alone, with no established connection to an outside group or state.