Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

3 Oct 2026 • 11:21 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

Hamam al-Hammami, identified as the co-pilot who attacked a flight captain on a flight to Tel Aviv, studied at a UK university prior to the attack, it has emerged.

A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire New University told The Independent: “Our thoughts are with the injured pilot, crew and passengers involved in this incident.

“Hamam al Hammami previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management. He did not undertake any pilot training at the University.”

The UAE’s prosecutor general said he intended to carry out a “terror attack” and that the man, who was identified on Saturday as Omani national al-Hammami, used a crash axe to stab the captain.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.

Hammami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, CNN quoted sources and Israeli officials familiar with the matter as saying.

He was banned from flying last year over concerns that he had radical ideological views, according to Saudi state media.

FlyDubai has said that the incident is still under investigation.

Read More

How ‘Israel’s 9/11’ was averted after midair stabbing as co-pilot’s motive remains a mystery

Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports

Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report

Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking

Key Points

  • Israeli hijacking co-pilot completed course at UK university
  • Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami
  • UAE launches probe into FlyDubai flight hijacking attempt
  • Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation

Pilot recalls 'one last fight' to open cockpit door

00:00 , Suha Kidwai

Captain Machchhar has retold his harrowing experience onboard Flight FZ1073.

Speaking with the Israeli prime minister late on Saturday, he said: “My memory is still in bits and pieces right now ... I did try and manage to open the door once but I think he shut it back closed. And at this point, I remember, I was lying down in the cockpit floor and I felt the aircraft and the whooshing sound and people screaming."

As the Boeing 737 MAX entered a steep 16,000-foot descent over Saudi Arabia, Machchhar made a final attempt to unlock the flight deck:

"I had that one last fight left in me, call it personal or call it for people, I did it because if I don't do it I am going to die... I gave everything that I had and went for the door and opened the door and thankfully, people were waiting to pounce back and took over control."

'You are a hero for Israel, India, and the world:’ Netanyahu praises Machchhar

23:00 , Suha Kidwai

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who prevented a catastrophic crash aboard a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv, extending a high-profile national honour to the captain.

In a video posted on social media this evening, he said: "You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world.

"I invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and you to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day."

The invitation to participate in the ceremonial flame-lighting is an honour traditionally reserved exclusively for Israeli citizens.

Alleged attacker 'cooperating' as investigation continues

22:00 , Suha Kidwai

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Tel Aviv-bound passenger jet is actively “cooperating” with investigators following his extradition to the United Arab Emirates.

The suspect, 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al Hammami, is currently being interrogated by UAE authorities after being transferred from Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

A team of Israeli officials arrived in the UAE on Saturday and are expected to assist in questioning the suspect, according to Israeli media reports.

The joint investigation follows an attempted hijacking on Wednesday, where passengers and flight crew managed to overpower the co-pilot, allowing the plane to land safely before the suspect was taken into custody.

Israeli journalists clash with Ireland football team after FlyDubai question

21:00 , Suha Kidwai

The Republic of Ireland men’s football team have abruptly halted a pre-match news conference on Saturday after heated exchanges with Israeli reporters.

Tensions erupted ahead of Sunday's Nations League fixture when an Israeli journalist questioned manager Heimir Hallgrimsson about the FlyDubai hijacking attempt, asking Hallgrimsson what he had to say about "the people that [he] supports".

The comment is understood as attempting to link support for Palestine to the hijacking.

A second reporter then accused Irish players of directing racial slurs at Israeli opponents during a previous match.

Football Association of Ireland (FAI) communications officer Kieran Crowley immediately intervened, rejecting the claim as "completely untrue" and accusing the reporter of broadcasting a lie.

Hallgrimsson and FAI officials then ended the briefing, walking out as arguments continued on the media floor.

Former US envoy suggests FlyDubai attack had 'dual-target'

20:00 , Suha Kidwai

Former US Ambassador to Oman Marc Sievers has suggested the attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai airliner may have been designed to destroy diplomatic and commercial relations between the UAE and Israel.

In a post on X, Sievers stated that the investigation will soon determine whether the co-pilot targeted a specific ground location to crash into, but warned that the broader geopolitical goal was likely to sabotage the Abraham Accords.

He wrote: "I think there was a dual target behind this attempted act of terrorism ... It's likely this was also intended to undermine the vital relationship between the UAE and Israel."

Sievers highlighted that the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route represents a critical commercial air link between the two nations, with no third-party international airlines currently servicing the direct flight corridor.

The former ambassador’s comments come as mass speculation around the incident heightens.

Theories gaining popularity online have indicated the attack may have been part of a false flag operation, with several scrutinising the attack’s potential to positively benefit Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.

Israeli investigators join UAE interrogation of FlyDubai co-pilot

19:00 , Suha Kidwai

Israeli officials have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the interrogation of the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack and crash a FlyDubai passenger jet.

According to Israeli media, investigators will assist UAE state prosecutors in questioning the suspect, identified earlier today as Hamam al Hammami.

The joint effort underscores the intense security coordination between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv following Wednesday's mid-air attack aboard Flight FZ1073.

Authorities from both nations are said to be focusing on whether the suspect acted alone or was operating under the direction of an external extremist network.

FlyDubai flights to Israel remain suspended

18:00 , Suha Kidwai

In its most recent statement FlyDubai has said its flights to Tel Aviv remain "temporarily suspended" following Wednesday's attempted hijacking.

Chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith reaffirmed that safety remains the carrier's highest priority after Flight FZ1073 was forced into an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

But despite previous cancellations, tracking data from Flightradar24 shows a FlyDubai flight scheduled to depart for Tel Aviv at 6:30am local time on Sunday.

At present, Israeli authorities have grounded flights, citing ongoing safety evaluations and updated security protocols.

What is a crash axe? The weapon used in the FlyDubai attacks

17:02 , Suha Kidwai

A crash axe is a heavy-duty emergency tool carried aboard commercial aircrafts.

The axe typically has a sharp blade on one side and a pointed spike on the other. Its insulated handle helps protect against electrical hazards, while the blade and spike can be used to break through panels and other structures during an onboard fire or emergency landing.

After the 9/11 attacks, security measures mandated that crash axes are kept inside the reinforced flight deck so they can be used if the crew needs to fight a fire or clear an obstruction during an emergency.

UAE launches probe into FlyDubai flight hijacking attempt

16:00 , Suha Kidwai

The UAE Attorney General, Counsellor Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has confirmed that Emirati authorities are conducting an ongoing investigation to establish the motive behind the mid-air attack.

According to state media outlet WAM, specialised investigators are now analysing physical and digital evidence to determine the co-pilot's motives and identify any potential ties to external extremist organisations.

The news comes after earlier confirmation that the hijacking is being treated as a ‘terror’ attack by UAE authorities.

Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports

15:50 , Maira Butt

The co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, according to reports.

He was banned from flying last year over concerns that he had radical ideological views, according to Saudi state media.

The attacker was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother, CNN reported.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports

Watch: FlyDubai pilot hailed as ‘national hero’ as he describes attack

15:01 , Maira Butt

Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report

14:34 , Maira Butt

The FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had radical ideological views, it has been reported.

Though the pilot- an Omani national - was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.

CNN reported that the pilot had been removed from a previous job at Oman’s national airline last year following concerns about his extremist views.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman - report

In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny

14:00 , Rituparna Chatterjee

Israel has some of the world’s most stringent air travel security measures.

The United Arab Emirates proudly adheres to international aviation safety standards. Yet those safeguards failed to prevent a flight between the countries from taking a dangerous plunge during an alleged attack in the cockpit.

The copilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after taking off from Dubai, UAE, with 174 people flying to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday.

“Until this event, the possibility of a threat originating from a pilot or crew member was not considered a likely scenario. Security efforts have traditionally focused much more heavily on passengers and their luggage,” says Eyal Hulata, Israel’s former national security adviser.

“That will probably change now and crew members will be subject to heavier screening.”

Read more.

How ‘Israel’s 9/11’ was averted after midair stabbing as co-pilot’s motive remains a mystery

13:30 , Maira Butt

When the first reports about a diverted flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv came through on Wednesday, it appeared to have been caused by a tussle between two pilots.

Early claims even suggested one was Russian and the other Ukrainian.

But, in the age of social media, the true chaos aboard the FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 quickly came to light. Footage and images sent from the plane by blood-covered passengers showed them overpowering the co-pilot, who it later emerged was an Omani national.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

Terror at 34,000ft: How ‘Israel’s 9/11’ was averted after midair stabbing

Analysis: How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power

13:00 , Maira Butt

The motives for an alleged hijacker to try and plunge a plane bound for Israel are vivid - and they are opaque.

But whether the attempt on Flight FZ1073 was in revenge for the thousands killed by Israel’s forces in Gaza or the consequences of a psychotic breakdown, only one person benefits. Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s longest-serving prime minister had just taken a similar flight path from the UAE to Israel as the ill-fated FlyDubai passengers.

He had been in Abu Dhabi, Israeli media has reported, because he was trying to get the president of the Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al ​Nahyan, to say publicly that he had not warned Netanyahu about the October 7 2023 Hamas-led massacres.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power

University had license to sponsor students suspended this week

12:31 , Maira Butt

Buckinghamshire New University had its license to sponsor international students suspended with immediate effect on Wednesday, according to reports in the BBC.

It said that the suspension was due to “many of the issues raised by the Home Office relate to historic international student recruitment activity”.

It has 20 days to respond to the revocation and existing international students may continue to study there in the interim.

Breaking: Israeli hijacking co-pilot completed course at UK university

12:12 , Maira Butt

Hamam al-Hammami, a co-pilot who attacked a flight captain on a flight to Tel Aviv, completed a course at Buckinghamshire New University it has emerged.

A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire New University told The Independent: “Our thoughts are with the injured pilot, crew and passengers involved in this incident.

“Hamam al Hammami previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management. He did not undertake any pilot training at the University.”

Polanski says Israel has 'definitely' operated false flag operations

11:57 , Maira Butt

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said that Israel has “definitely” conducted false flag operations in the past.

“What I find really difficult to navigate is anti-Semitism on the Left,” he said in an episode of the Bold Politics podcast.

“Because, again, I want to be really clear: there are definitely examples of where the Israeli government [has] used false flags.”

It comes amid a row about anti-semitism in the party.

How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed

11:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

A six-year-old girl played a crucial role in preventing a major disaster when a co-pilot attacked a flight captain on board a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Nina Manes happened to ask her mother Tali to take her to the lavatory on board the flight just as the man, who is an Omani national but has not been named, attacked Indian Cpt Smit Machchhar by stabbing him repeatedly.

Maira Butt reports.

Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking

10:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The alleged hijacking of an Israel-bound flight has raised questions over how secure the vetting process is for one of aviation’s most skilled jobs.

Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv rapidly descended during a terrifying ordeal as the co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the plane after attacking his fellow pilot with an axe, or possibly stabbing him.

 (Reuters)

It is still unclear why the co-pilot to acted in this way. Yet the question remains: how was this person able to bypass rigorous background checks and be given the responsibility of flying planes?

“It’s very easy after every incident to say, what more can we do?” Phillip Baum, visiting professor of aviation security at Coventry University, said.

“Often, airline pilots are recruited from other states, so the degree of background checks is somewhat limited. They’ll certainly have their pilot training and licenses, but in terms of background checks from other states, it’s always a problem.”

Read more here.

Israeli officials expected to question co-pilot of FlyDubai flight

09:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

Israeli officials are expected to question the co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a commercial passenger flight from Dubai bound for Tel Aviv, according to a source briefed on the investigation.

Disaster was averted on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday after passengers and crew subdued the ⁠co-pilot, who had stabbed the captain in what Israeli officials have said was an apparent attempt to crash the plane carrying over 170 passengers and crew.

Passengers stand beside Flydubai Flight FZ1073, with damage visible to the aircraft's tail, after it made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 (AP)

The co-pilot was transferred on Thursday to the UAE, where the source said Israeli officials were expected to question him.

The source declined to say which Israeli agency or authority would take part in the questioning.

Asked whether Israeli officials ​would ⁠question the co-pilot, an Israeli government official told Reuters that Israeli investigators would take part in the UAE-led investigation alongside Emirati authorities, seeking to determine what happened and examine the suspect's motives and background.

Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report

09:00 , Maira Butt

The FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had radical ideological views, it has been reported.

Though the pilot- an Omani national - was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.

CNN reported that the pilot had been removed from a previous job at Oman’s national airline last year following concerns about his extremist views.

Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman - report

Iran denies involvement in RAF Fairford air base security incidents

08:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The leaders of Britain and the United States have suggested, without giving evidence, that Iran played a role in two major security incidents this week, the arrests near a US-run military base in England used in the war against Tehran and the attack in the cockpit of an Israel-bound plane.

As of Friday, no confirmed connection to the Islamic Republic had emerged.

Britain has not made public any evidence linking Iran to the air-base arrests on terrorism-related charges.

And an official who was not authorized to speak to the media said there is currently no evidence of a link between Iran and the cockpit attack.

The investigations are in the early stages.

A B1 bomber prepares to take off as police officers staff a checkpoint near RAF Fairford (AP)

If an Iranian link to the Britain arrests is confirmed, it would underline a strategy that Iran’s government has promoted for decades, using smaller, relatively low-cost attacks to needle and disrupt more powerful adversaries and their economies while causing friction among allies.

Iran has denied involvement in Sunday’s arrests close to the RAF Fairford air base, which has been used by US bombers to strike Iran.

Iranian leaders summoned Britain's ambassador and called on the British government to provide an official explanation.

Police on Thursday arrested a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian citizen on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, while five other suspects were released on bail.

Detectives said they found a quantity of an accelerant – gasoline – in vans near the air base, but no explosives.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK sees “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident but did not provide details.

Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe in attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE says

08:00 , Maira Butt

An Omani co-pilot on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM.

The co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with an axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the prosecutor general said.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.

Boston native recalls moment plane started to plummet

07:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

Boston native Mika Bauman tells NBC News an 11-year-old girl who was sitting next to her grabbed her hand as the FlyDubai plane started to plummet.

“We just held hands, me and her, and her father next to her, and we all screamed,” she said.

"We didn't let go until Saudi Arabia."

Bauman is a dual US-Israeli citizen who was flying home to Tel Aviv.

Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified

07:09 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The co-pilot on the FlyDubai flight accused of attacking the plane’s captain was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, according to reports.

Read more.

'I realized that if I didn’t get up passengers would lose their lives'

06:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight told how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a potentially deadly descent.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, from India, is now recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital.

 (AP)

He told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call broadcast live on television news channels that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save the passengers aboard the aircraft.

“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” he said from the hospital, his head bandaged and tubes in his nose, before breaking down as he recalled the attack.

Read more here.

Flydubai pilot reveals desperate attempts to unlock cockpit door

05:30 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The Indian airline captain who was stabbed while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has recalled the moment he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker.

 (Reuters)

In a video call to the Indian prime minister while recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, Capt. Smit Machchhar said he knew he had to get back up to save the passengers aboard the aircraft.

"When I was on the ground, I realised that the aircraft is going down. And I told myself, 'This is the last push, Smit. The door is right there.' I was still getting hit, but I opened the door,” Mr Machchhar said.

Watch the video here.

'It was like the craziest roller coaster': Passenger recalls FlyDubai plane's sudden descent

05:00 , Rituparna Chatterjee

Passenger Adam Polo, who was on the FlyDubai plane with his family told CNN the sudden descent felt “like a normal air pocket”.

But soon “the electricity, all of the multimedia system and the air conditioning in the airplane stopped working”, he said.

“People that were standing in the aisle or just going to the toilet, they fell, anyone that wasn’t sitting fell. So it was like the craziest roller coaster that you ever did, but multiplied by a thousand,” he told the news outlet.

What happened on the hijacked Israel flight and who was behind it?

04:42 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The Flydubai flight FZ1073 incident has heightened security fears in Israel weeks before Israelis vote in the first election since the Hamas-led October 7 attack, with security a defining issue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday named the pilot who was attacked as Captain Smit Machchhar, and praised him as a "true hero" for fighting back against the attacker and opening the cockpit door.

Flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai International Airport shortly after 3am UTC on Wednesday morning and was heading for Israel when it signalled an emergency code two hours into its journey, according to tracking website FlightRadar24.

Read more here.

Oman barred FlyDubai co-pilot from flying over extremism concerns

04:31 , Rituparna Chatterjee

The FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed a plane's captain in an apparent attempt to crash a flight with 182 people on board was barred from flying in his native Oman over security concerns, according to reports.

Though the pilot – an Omani national – was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.

However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.

Flydubai suspends flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv

03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while authorities investigate the cockpit attack.

The suspension has left passengers stranded and Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are planning rescue flights from Dubai to bring travellers back on Friday.

Israel’s transportation ministry has also made an urgent request to Etihad Airways to increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.

In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny

02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Israel has some of the world’s most stringent air travel security measures. The United Arab Emirates proudly adheres to international aviation safety standards. Yet those safeguards failed to prevent a flight between the countries from taking a dangerous plunge during an alleged attack in the cockpit.

The copilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after taking off from Dubai, UAE, with 174 people flying to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday.

The airplane made a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and the incident is under investigation by Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities, with the United States and Oman assisting efforts to determine a motive.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny

How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed

01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A six-year-old girl played a crucial role in preventing a major disaster when a co-pilot attacked a flight captain on board a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Nina Manes happened to ask her mother Tali to take her to the lavatory on board the flight just as the man, who is an Omani national but has not been named, attacked Indian Cpt Smit Machchhar by stabbing him repeatedly.

Her mother raised the alarm after she heard shouting coming from the cockpit prompting cabin crew to rush to the scene.

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed

How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power

Saturday 3 October 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The motives for an alleged hijacker to try and plunge a plane bound for Israel are vivid - and they are opaque.

But whether the attempt on Flight FZ1073 was in revenge for the thousands killed by Israel’s forces in Gaza or the consequences of a psychotic breakdown, only one person benefits. Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sam Kiley reports:

How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power

Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking

Friday 2 October 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The alleged hijacking of an Israel-bound flight has raised questions over how secure the vetting process is for one of aviation’s most skilled jobs.

Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv rapidly descended during a terrifying ordeal as the co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the plane after attacking his fellow pilot with an axe, or possibly stabbing him.

It is still unclear why the co-pilot to acted in this way. Yet the question remains: how was this person able to bypass rigorous background checks and be given the responsibility of flying planes?

Image from: Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university

Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking

Netanyahu says ‘whoever sent attacker will pay heavy price’

Friday 2 October 2026 22:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was looking into whether the co-pilot had acted under ‌anyone's direction, ⁠warning in a video statement released by his office that whoever was involved would pay a "heavy price".

Most of the passengers on board were Israeli nationals.

Netanyahu on Thursday said that the co-pilot, whom he has identified as an Omani national, had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was clearly suicidal, but that so far a motive for his actions had not been established.

Senior UAE official calls Israel flight hijacking act of 'terrorism'

Friday 2 October 2026 22:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A senior UAE official has called the attempted hijacking of the FlyDubai flight to Israel an “act of terrorism”.

Anwar Gargash, an adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, also praised the Indian pilot who was stabbed, saying he “embodied the meaning of courage”.

He wrote on X: “The Indian pilot at "Flydubai," Smit Mathur, deserves every bit of appreciation, for he embodied the meaning of courage and responsibility in the face of a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster.

“His professionalism and moral sense in the darkest of circumstances make him a true hero. Far from the easy reduction of what happened or the adoption and promotion of conspiracy theories, vigilance and caution remain essential in confronting the risks of extremism and terrorism.”

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved