Israeli, Emirati, Australian, and Omani authorities are investigating the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, when the co-pilot attacked the captain mid-flight in an apparent effort to crash the plane. The incident, which involved over 170 passengers, ended with the aircraft making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after passengers and crew subdued the attacker.
The co-pilot has been identified by multiple sources as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national born to an Omani father and Syrian mother. He is currently held under investigation in the United Arab Emirates, the country where the aircraft is registered. Authorities have described the attack as a terrorist act, with al-Hammami allegedly using the cockpit’s crash axe to assault the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who despite serious injuries managed to open the cockpit door and allow others to intervene.
Al-Hammami’s background has come under intense scrutiny. He reportedly studied engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne between 2015 and 2017 on a student visa that was later cancelled after his enrollment status lapsed. Australian law enforcement, including the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), are investigating his links to Australia, examining his associations and potential radicalisation during his time there.
Following his studies in Australia, al-Hammami completed a degree in aviation management in the United Kingdom in 2023. He had trained with Oman Air but was banned from flying by Omani authorities due to concerns over his apparent radical Islamist views, supported by surveillance and social media posts displaying sympathies toward extremist groups such as al-Qaeda. Some posts showed imagery of Israeli airlines and references to known terrorists, raising alarm among intelligence agencies. Whether al-Hammami acted alone or as part of a wider network remains unclear.
The attempted hijacking has generated significant criticism within Israel regarding gaps in aviation and national security protocols. Israeli officials confirmed they had received the passenger and crew lists from the UAE in advance, a standard procedure, but questions remain about how al-Hammami, a citizen of Oman—a country without diplomatic relations with Israel—was permitted to co-pilot a flight to Tel Aviv. Israel’s Ministry of Transportation and intelligence agencies face scrutiny over overlapping and fragmented responsibilities in vetting foreign aircrew, as highlighted in a 2024 state comptroller report that recommended the government establish clearer policies and coordination.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev has distanced her ministry from responsibility, stating it does not have the capacity to conduct intelligence vetting and that security agencies such as Mossad and Shin Bet are tasked with overseeing flight security. However, some Israeli opposition figures and media have criticized the government for systemic lapses and inadequate preparation amid growing regional threats, particularly in the run-up to October elections.
The United Arab Emirates authorities have expressed frustration about delayed intelligence sharing from Oman and Australia regarding al-Hammami’s radicalisation. Omani officials have declined to comment publicly on these matters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a comprehensive review of foreign civil aviation security and warned that those responsible for facilitating the attack will face severe consequences.
As investigations continue, airlines including Flydubai have suspended flights on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route while intelligence services from multiple countries collaborate to determine how such a security breach occurred and to prevent future incidents.