U.A.E. says co-pilot on FlyDubai plane that nearly crashed attacked captain with cockpit's crash axe

The captain, who was badly wounded, has said he used his remaining energy while being stabbed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing people who had noticed alarmingly unusual sounds to come in, tackle the co-pilot and stabilize the plane.

The co-pilot has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami

The Associated Press

· Posted: Oct 03, 2026 8:38 AM EDT | Last Updated: 35 minutes ago

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The co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight before passengers and others stopped the attack is an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf and Western diplomat, said on Saturday.

The United Arab Emirates said the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit's crash axe and tried to take control of the plane in a "terrorist attack."

• 'Prepared ourselves for the worst': FlyDubai passenger recounts moments during cockpit attack

All three people who identified the co-pilot spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The Gulf diplomat said investigations are underway to establish whether he acted as a "lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups."

The co-pilot, who officials said nearly crashed the sharply plummeting flight with 182 people aboard, was barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views, a separate person familiar with the matter said.

The co-pilot was then hired by the UAE-based airline FlyDubai, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. It was not immediately clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired. Oman's barring of him was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

An official says the co-pilot was born in the UAE

How the co-pilot managed to be working in the cockpit on Wednesday morning is a central question for investigators. Israel says it has agreements with foreign carriers to keep pilots from flying into the country if they are citizens of nations that don't maintain diplomatic relations with it. Israel and Oman do not have formal diplomatic relations.

There was no immediate comment from FlyDubai, the UAE government or Oman Air. Oman's government has said nothing publicly in response to repeated questions since the incident.

The co-pilot was born in the UAE and his mother is Syrian, according to another regional official with knowledge of the investigation.

WATCH | FlyDubai pilot tells Indian PM how he managed to open cockpit door :

'I can't let anyone die': FlyDubai pilot tells Indian PM how he managed to open cockpit door

October 2|

Duration

5:33

Capt. Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight, described how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent. He spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call broadcast live on television news channels.

The official confirmed that the co-pilot worked with Oman's national airline but was removed from flying because of concerns that he showed signs of extremist views. He was later moved to an administrative job at Oman Air, the official said.

Security agencies from four regional countries were working to establish the co-pilot's motives, aided by the United States and other Western governments, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the investigation.

• What we know so far about the midair FlyDubai attack

UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash on Friday called the attack a "dangerous terrorist act" in a post on X. The incident is a test for the UAE government, which has earned a reputation for effective measures against extremist activities but has also bristled in the past over criticism of security lapses.

A social media account was deleted the day of the flight

Little else was immediately known about the co-pilot's background. His Instagram account was active until the day of the flight and then deleted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalization," but provided no evidence.

WATCH | How FlyDubai Flight 1073 survived impossible odds:

How FlyDubai Flight 1073 survived impossible odds | About That

October 2|

Duration

2:58

Andrew Chang breaks down what we know about the apparent attempt to hijack a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv and how the plane landed safely despite all odds. Images provided by The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty Images

The captain, who was badly wounded, has said he used his remaining energy while being stabbed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing people who had noticed alarmingly unusual sounds to come in, tackle the co-pilot and stabilize the plane. It made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Investigators have not publicly identified the object used to stab the captain or said whether it was carried onto the plane or came from inside the aircraft.

Both the captain and co-pilot were later taken to the UAE as it leads the investigation. Officials have said a number of countries including Israel are participating.