‘Planned it even before I was hired’: What Flydubai co-pilot told investigators days after tragedy averted

The Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking captain Smit Machchhar mid-air allegedly planned the attack before joining the airline. Investigators are probing his previous trips to Israel, career history, possible motive and links to Australia, while reports suggest he may have acted alone.

Days after Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national and the co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, attacked the flight captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempt to crash the aircraft carrying Israeli passengers, the co-pilot reportedly told investigators that he had planned the attack even before he was hired by the airline.

Last week, a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight from Dubai found itself in the middle of a tragedy after the co-pilot attacked the flight captain mid-air. The incident occurred on FZ1073. Smit Machchhar, the flight captain, initially believed that his co-pilot had gotten up to pray but later realised that he was being attacked. Despite suffering serious injuries, he managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to subdue the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots then regained control of the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk.

Quick answers to key questions

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QUESTIONS

The Flydubai co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, claimed he planned the attack even before being hired, indicating premeditated intentions to cause chaos.

Despite previous concerns about radical views that led to his removal from Oman Air, the co-pilot was hired by Flydubai without proper lineage checks, raising questions about aviation security protocols.

After being attacked, Captain Smit Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to enter, overpower al-Hammami, and stabilize the aircraft.

Intelligence and security agencies failed to adequately vet the co-pilot, leading to systemic oversights in checking his background and allowing him to operate a flight with Israeli passengers.

Yes, the incident highlighted significant gaps in security protocols, suggesting that more rigorous background checks are necessary for pilots, especially those from countries without diplomatic ties to their destination.

Since the September 30 incident, investigations across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel and Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing, have been underway, with chilling details emerging every day.

Omani co-pilot reveals chilling details

According to a Channel 13 report, Al-Hammami admitted that he was looking to work for airlines, adding, "I checked which ones flew to Tel Aviv. That's why I chose Flydubai. I planned it even before I was hired."

According to Israeli media reports, Al-Hammami also planned to kill Smit Machchhar inside the locked cockpit and subsequently take control of the aircraft. He further told investigators that he used his previous trips to Israel to collect information and prepare for the attack, which he initially planned to carry out in July. However, Al-Hammami changed his July plan after he developed a friendly relationship with one of the crew members. He allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into a US military base in Jordan if he was unable to reach Israel.

According to reports, the attack took place while the aircraft was flying over Jordan, with Al-Hammami also interfering with its controls. He reportedly switched off the engines and pushed the rudders forward, causing the plane to lose 16,000 feet in altitude in less than a minute.

What investigators found

According to reports published by CNN and CBS News, citing Israeli sources, Al-Hammami may have acted as a 'lone wolf.' However, investigations are in full swing to determine the motive behind the attack. A LinkedIn profile with the same name showed that he worked at Oman Air for seven years, leaving in February last year, before joining the Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc in June 2025. Citing a source, CNN reported that the profile belongs to the Flydubai co-pilot accused in the incident. In a statement to AP, Royal Air Maroc stated that the suspect only trained with the airline for three months last year as part of the pre-employment process, but was not selected.

According to reports, Tel Aviv's Tax Authority has confirmed that the names of all passengers and crew members were provided to the authorities before the flight took off, adding that the responsibility lay with the Transportation Ministry to provide answers on the matter of vetting.

Separately, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is also investigating Al-Hammami's links to the country.

About the Author

Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.

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