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

Israeli Officials See No Immediate Evidence of Wider Plot in Flydubai Cockpit Attack

Healfromzero.com – Investigators examining the attempted takeover of a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel currently believe the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain acted without known accomplices, Israeli officials have said. The inquiry remains active, with authorities in several countries still seeking to establish what drove the alleged attack and whether any outside connections emerge.

One Israeli official said material gathered during the investigation pointed, so far, to a lone actor. A second Israeli source said Israel had not identified a link between the suspect and any government or organized group. Both cautioned that the assessment reflects the present stage of an evolving investigation.

The United Arab Emirates and Israel are conducting parallel inquiries into the incident. Saudi authorities are also involved after the aircraft made an emergency landing in the kingdom.

Emergency inside the cockpit

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Israel when the captain was allegedly attacked in the cockpit. The UAE’s attorney general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said the co-pilot tried to take control of the aircraft after using a crash ax against his colleague. Crash axes are emergency tools carried on most commercial planes.

Al Shamsi characterized the alleged attempted hijacking as a “terrorist act.”

The aircraft dropped thousands of feet over a matter of minutes during the confrontation, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic outcome. Captain Smit Machchhar, despite suffering injuries, was able to unlock the cockpit door and alert cabin crew and passengers. People on board then entered the cockpit and helped regain control of the plane.

The episode highlights the importance of layered aviation safety procedures during an in-flight emergency. Cockpit access protections, communication between flight crew and cabin staff, and the ability to divert quickly are all central to limiting risk when a flight crew member becomes incapacitated or a security threat develops inside the aircraft.

Questions over suspected radicalization

The suspect has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that questioning and personal information had led Israel to conclude that the suspect had “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.” Netanyahu did not provide details about the information or explain when that alleged indoctrination occurred.

In the hours following the attack, US President Donald Trump said the suspect could have ties to Iran “based on what I’m hearing.” No supporting details were made public, and Israeli officials have not said they have found a connection to Iran, another state, or a militant organization.

Determining motive remains one of the central tasks for investigators. A lone-actor assessment does not end that work: authorities will continue examining the suspect’s communications, travel, employment history, personal contacts, and digital activity to establish whether ideology, personal circumstances, or another factor played a role.

Employment history under scrutiny

Sources familiar with the case said al-Hammami had been removed from an earlier position at Oman’s national airline in 2025 amid concerns about extremist views. An online professional profile carrying his name listed seven years at Oman Air, ending in February 2025. It stated that he joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026.

One source identified that profile as belonging to the Flydubai pilot involved in Wednesday’s incident. The account was later deleted. A post appearing on the profile roughly nine hours after the attack contained an image of a former al Qaeda leader. It remains unclear who posted it or whether it had been prepared in advance.

An Israeli official said al-Hammami had spent only eight months working for Flydubai. Royal Air Maroc said he trained with the carrier for three months during 2025 as part of its pre-employment process, but was not chosen for a role with the airline.

The Australian Federal Police is separately examining al-Hammami’s connections to Australia. The agency said it would provide further information when appropriate.

A multinational investigation

The case spans several jurisdictions: the UAE, where Flydubai is based; Saudi Arabia, where the emergency landing occurred; Israel, the intended destination; and other countries assessing potential links. Such investigations can take time because investigators must coordinate evidence, interviews, aviation records, and digital material across national borders.

For now, the available official assessment is cautious. Authorities have described a grave alleged assault aboard a commercial flight and an apparent effort to seize the controls, but have not publicly established a broader network behind it. The survival of the aircraft and the actions taken by Captain Machchhar, crew members, and passengers prevented the incident from becoming far more deadly.