UAE prosecutors have confirmed that Hamam Alhammami, the co-pilot of a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe and allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Authorities have classified the incident as a “terrorist attack” and are investigating whether Alhammami acted alone or had links to an extremist organisation.
What happened on the flydubai flight?
The Boeing 737 was carrying more than 170 passengers, including 24 children, when the incident unfolded on Wednesday.
According to the details released so far, Alhammami attempted to sabotage the aircraft before attacking Captain Machchhar, who tried to stop him. The aircraft was flying at around 34,000 feet when it began descending rapidly, at one stage dropping at approximately 23,000 feet per minute before reaching around 15,600 feet.
Despite being injured, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing other crew members and passengers to enter and overpower the attacker. Video from inside the aircraft showed the injured pilot lying on the floor and saying that his co-pilot had attacked him.
How was the aircraft brought under control?
A dentist among the passengers reportedly provided emergency medical assistance to Captain Machchhar after he was injured. Two other pilots then took control of the aircraft and diverted it to Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed safely.
The incident prevented what authorities described as a potentially catastrophic outcome involving the passenger aircraft.
Why was a crash axe involved?
A crash axe is mandatory equipment aboard commercial aircraft and is normally stored in the cockpit for use during emergencies. The equipment was previously kept in passenger cabin areas as well, but aviation security procedures changed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, with such tools subsequently being kept in the cockpit.
Authorities have not disclosed all details about how Alhammami accessed and used the axe during the attack.
Who was Hamam Alhammami?
The co-pilot has been identified as an Omani national. Reports have raised questions about his previous employment history and alleged concerns over extremist material.
According to reports, Alhammami was working as a trainee co-pilot with Oman Air in 2024 when he was reportedly found possessing extremist material. He was subsequently allowed to continue working with the airline in an administrative capacity. He left the company in February 2025 and joined Royal Air Maroc in June that year before leaving in January 2026.
Alhammami later joined flydubai, where he had reportedly worked for around eight months before the attack. Investigators are now examining his background, including whether he had any links to extremist organisations.
Did the co-pilot plan to crash the aircraft?
Reports have suggested that Alhammami may have intended to crash the aircraft in Israel. However, investigators are still examining the circumstances and motive behind the incident. Authorities are also looking into whether he acted independently or was connected to a wider extremist network.
