UAE prosecutors have confirmed that co-pilot Hamam Al Hamami attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on September 30 and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, while authorities investigate the incident as a suspected terrorist attack.
Abu Dhabi, Oct 2026 : United Arab Emirates prosecutors have confirmed that the co-pilot of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flydubai flight attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe while the aircraft was airborne, describing the incident as a “terrorist attack”, according to reports on Saturday.
UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot, identified as Hamam Al Hamami, attempted to take control of the aircraft after assaulting the captain inside the cockpit. According to the state news agency WAM, Al Shamsi said the co-pilot began executing his plan during the flight, attacking Machchhar with a crash axe and attempting to seize control of the aircraft.
The incident occurred on September 30, when the Boeing 737 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Captain Machchhar reportedly resisted the attack and took steps to prevent the situation from escalating into a potential aviation disaster. His actions have drawn praise, with the Indian pilot being described as a hero for his response during the emergency.
According to reports, the aircraft was cruising at approximately 34,000 feet when it began a rapid descent, reportedly dropping at a rate of around 23,000 feet per minute before reaching an altitude of approximately 15,600 feet.
Machchhar fought back against the co-pilot and opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to assist in overpowering the attacker. Two other pilots who were travelling on the flight reportedly helped manage the emergency as the aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
The UAE authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the co-pilot’s background, possible motives and any connection to terrorist activity.
Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of a specialised investigation team comprising members of the Public Prosecution. The team will examine the causes and circumstances of the attack and determine whether it was linked to terrorist intent or activity, according to a statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UAE has also expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabian authorities for their cooperation and handling of the emergency landing.
Crash Axe and Aviation Security
A crash axe is mandatory equipment carried aboard commercial passenger aircraft under international aviation regulations. It is generally stored in the cockpit and is intended for use by flight crew in emergencies, including situations involving aircraft damage.
Historically, crash axes were sometimes stored in passenger cabins. However, aviation security practices changed following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, with increased emphasis on restricting access to equipment that could potentially be used as a weapon.
The attack has raised questions about cockpit security, crew safety and procedures for dealing with threats originating from within the flight crew itself.
Reports Raise Questions About Co-Pilot’s Background
Media reports have raised concerns about Al Hamami’s previous employment and alleged extremist views. He was reportedly barred from flying in Oman over concerns about his beliefs, although these claims have not been independently established in the ongoing investigation.
According to reports, Al Hamami spent considerable time outside Oman, including in Syria, where he was allegedly exposed to extremist ideas before moving to the UAE.
CNN reported that he had worked for flydubai for approximately eight months. A now-deleted LinkedIn profile bearing the name Hamam Al Hammami reportedly indicated that he had worked for Oman Air for seven years, leaving the airline in February 2025.
The profile allegedly showed that he joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026 before subsequently taking up employment with flydubai. These details are based on media reports and remain subject to verification.
Reports also said the deleted profile published two posts within approximately nine hours of the flydubai incident, both of which were described as terror-related.
One post reportedly contained video clips filmed inside the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, including footage zooming in on an aircraft belonging to Israeli airline El Al. The video allegedly ended with images of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qaeda leader who succeeded Osama bin Laden, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a suicide bombing in 2009 that killed nine people, including US personnel.
Another post reportedly featured an AI-generated image depicting Islam’s three holiest sites in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. CNN also reported that a poem accompanying the image referred to rejecting humiliation, overcoming fear of death and defending personal dignity.
A separate CNN report said Al Hamami’s now-deleted X account portrayed him as deeply religious and misogynistic. Other media reports cited a former colleague who allegedly described him as a religious extremist.
Authorities have yet to establish the full circumstances behind the attack. Investigators are examining the co-pilot’s professional history, online activity and possible motivations as they work to determine the extent of the alleged terrorist connection.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
