DUBAI — Investigative agencies have identified the co-pilot involved in a mid-air cockpit attack aboard a Flydubai flight as 36-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, following a critical security incident that forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which departed Dubai for Tel Aviv on September 30, was diverted to Tabuk Airport after al-Hammami reportedly assaulted the aircraft's captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national. The sudden altercation in the cockpit caused the Boeing 737 MAX to suffer a sharp loss of altitude before cabin crew and passengers intervened to restrain the co-pilot. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were reported uninjured.
According to intelligence and aviation sources, al-Hammami was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Prior to joining Flydubai eight months ago, he was employed by Oman Air for seven years until early 2025. Sources familiar with his background revealed that Oman Air had previously grounded al-Hammami and removed him from flight duties due to concerns regarding extremist ideological views. He subsequently underwent brief theoretical training at Royal Air Maroc but never operated commercial flights for the carrier.
Authorities in the UAE, in coordination with Saudi and international aviation security officials, have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Investigators are currently examining al-Hammami’s digital footprint and potential affiliations to determine whether the assault was an isolated act or politically motivated.
Captain Machchhar, who sustained injuries during the attack but successfully managed to stabilize the aircraft with assistance from crew members, is recovering. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke directly with Machchhar to commend his composure and brave handling of the emergency.
Flydubai and UAE civil aviation authorities stated that the investigation remains active and that further details will be released upon the conclusion of official inquiries.
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