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The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday that the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft, describing the incident as an attempted terrorist act. The UAE attorney-general said the investigation is continuing to establish the circumstances, motive and any connections involved.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 30, aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. The Boeing 737 diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely after passengers and crew intervened. The aircraft carried 182 people, according to Associated Press reporting. The UAE’s announcement is the first official account to characterize the event as a planned terrorist act, but it does not disclose a motive or conclude whether the co-pilot acted alone.
UAE details the cockpit attack
In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency, Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said investigators found that the co-pilot began carrying out a plan during the flight. He attacked the captain inside the flight deck with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the statement said.
Authorities are still examining physical and digital evidence and investigating the full circumstances, motives and any links to the incident. The attorney-general said final findings would be announced after the necessary procedures are completed. The statement did not specify when the investigation would conclude or identify any alleged associates.
The UAE had initially said its inquiry would determine whether the cockpit incident involved terrorist activity, a terrorist purpose or prior planning or direction. Saturday’s statement marks a firmer official assessment, while making clear that investigators have not completed their work.
Flight diverted after passengers and crew intervened
Reuters reported that the flight plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the confrontation, citing Israeli officials. Passengers and crew entered the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot, while a second pair of Flydubai pilots aboard the aircraft took over and brought it safely to Tabuk, Reuters reported.
The captain, identified as Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, was injured. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said Friday that he had returned to the UAE, was in good condition and was receiving medical treatment. It also credited the captain, crew and passengers with helping contain the situation, while cautioning against circulating unverified claims before the investigation is complete.
After the emergency landing, passengers continued to Tel Aviv on a replacement Flydubai aircraft, Reuters reported. Saudi authorities said the two pilots were also transferred to the UAE as the investigation proceeded, according to reporting by The National.
Identity and motive remain under investigation
Associated Press reported Saturday, citing three people with knowledge of the situation, including Gulf and Western diplomats, that the co-pilot was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami. The UAE’s announcement of the terrorist-act investigation did not name him or confirm his nationality. Flydubai has said it could not comment beyond its official statements, AP reported.
AP also reported, citing a separate person familiar with the matter, that Oman had barred the co-pilot from flying over concerns about extremist views before he was hired by Flydubai. That account is attributed to sources and has not been confirmed in the UAE attorney-general’s public statement. The available official announcement does not explain the co-pilot’s employment history or describe any screening procedures.
In the first days after the incident, Israeli leaders publicly characterized it as terrorism, while Flydubai said the reasons remained unknown and warned against premature speculation. The UAE’s new statement changes the official framing, but it does not establish a final motive, any organizational link, or whether further charges will follow.
Investigation continues across jurisdictions
The flight landed in Saudi Arabia, while the UAE is leading the criminal investigation. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said Friday that the prosecution-led team was coordinating with relevant regional and international authorities and organizations. It said it would avoid commenting on claims that could pre-empt the findings or affect the inquiry.
Investigators have not publicly released technical findings on the aircraft’s descent, detailed evidence from the cockpit or a timetable for their final report. The UAE attorney-general said technical examinations and analysis of physical and digital evidence remain underway; authorities have promised to publish the findings through official channels once procedures are complete.
