Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Plunges After Cockpit Axe Attack

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Drops 17,000 Feet After Cockpit Axe Attack

On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged more than 17,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe in an apparent hijacking attempt, news.detik.com reported. Carrying 174 passengers aboard a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the aircraft suffered extreme structural stress that tore off its tail rudder before passengers and backup crew subdued the attacker and landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Two and a half hours into the journey, the aircraft first transmitted an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before switching to squawk code 7500, which indicates an aircraft hijacking, according to bbc.com. Data from Flightradar24 recorded the jet dropping about 16,625 feet in approximately 30 seconds, causing one passenger to describe it as experiencing intense turbulence lasting 20 to 30 seconds alongside panic in the cabin, kompas.id noted.

Captain Smit Machchhar Fights Off Emergency Axe Assault

Flight captain Smit Machchhar sustained severe injuries during the cockpit struggle while keeping the aircraft from crashing, according to bbc.com. Machchhar described fighting for his life while losing consciousness as blood pooled in the flight deck. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the co-pilot before two backup pilots diverted and landed the plane safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, kompas.id reported. The 38-year-old captain, identified as an Indian national, stated in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as cited by CNN and reported by news.detik.com, At that time, I was fighting for my life. I was so badly injured that I fell to the ground… at that moment, I thought, what if I can’t get back up? Machchhar previously worked as a commercial pilot for Indian airline SpiceJet before moving to Dubai to join Flydubai as an experienced pilot in 2022, bbc.com reported. Mainland Air CEO Philip Kean recalled Machchhar as someone able to remain calm during a crisis, while fellow captain Dharav Gosalia described him as a sociable, cheerful, disciplined pilot nicknamed Smit Mac who underwent years of training, including under former Indian Air Force pilots transitioning to commercial aviation.

Passengers and Crew Subdue the Attacker at 34,000 Feet

Quick-thinking passengers and off-duty crew members rushed the flight deck to restrain the co-pilot after the sudden descent. According to kompas.id, a passenger named Yaniv Hayoun was the first to enter the cockpit, putting the co-pilot in a neck hold before a dentist on board, Musaev, administered emergency medical care to the bleeding captain. Musaev and other passengers secured the attacker using headphone cables and plastic zip ties, preventing further violence as no passengers sustained injuries during the ordeal. Musaev described the critical moments, stating, I thought, if we had waited just a moment longer, we would have lost him. His blood pressure plummeted. He suddenly lost consciousness, and blood was everywhere. Hayoun, who was flying with his wife and two daughters, remarked, When our children were in danger, I didn’t think about anything else. I just did what had to be done to save my family. Meanwhile, two backup pilots assigned as deadheading crew members scheduled to operate the return flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai took over the controls to land the aircraft, while reports regarding their nationalities varied between Europe, Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand, according to kompas.id.

Hamam al-Hammami Identified as Co-Pilot with Radicalization History

Investigative reports from cnbcindonesia.com revealed that Australian Federal Police launched an inquiry into al-Hammami’s visa history after discovering he studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017 before his student visa was cancelled in 2019. CNN sources cited by news.detik.com indicated that al-Hammami had previously been dropped from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns over radical views before completing a brief stint with Royal Air Maroc. Al-Hammami was an Omani citizen born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother, and he spent part of his life in the UAE, having worked at Oman Air for approximately seven years until February 2025 according to his LinkedIn profile, news.detik.com reported. Royal Air Maroc stated to AP that al-Hammami completed a three-month pre-employment training program in 2025 but was not selected for employment, after which he joined Flydubai roughly eight months prior to the incident, while Australian anti-terrorism officials investigated whether he was radicalized while studying in Australia between 2015 and 2017 after obtaining a student visa in 2014, cnbcindonesia.com noted.

United Arab Emirates and International Investigators Probe Terrorist Intent

United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi classified the cockpit assault as an act of terrorism, stating on October 3, 2026, that the co-pilot deliberately attempted to take control of the aircraft, kompas.id reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly asserted that the co-pilot attempted to down the aircraft in a manner reminiscent of the September 11 attacks, while stating that the co-pilot had allegedly undergone radical Islamist indoctrination, though details regarding the radicalization remain under investigation, according to news.detik.com and bbc.com.

What Aircraft and Route Were Involved in Flydubai Flight FZ1073?

What aircraft model operated Flydubai flight FZ1073?

The flight was operated using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 174 passengers on its scheduled route from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to kompas.id and kompas.com.

Where did Flydubai flight FZ1073 ultimately land after the incident?

The aircraft diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where two backup pilots landed the plane safely following the cockpit struggle at 06:58 local time, kompas.id and bbc.com reported.

Which airline employed the attacker before his tenure at Flydubai?

Hamam al-Hammami was previously with Oman Air and subsequently completed a three-month training program with Royal Air Maroc in 2025 before joining Flydubai, news.detik.com noted.