October 03, 2026
UAE Calls FlyDubai Cockpit Attack an "Attempted Terrorist Attack"
UAE Calls FlyDubai Cockpit Attack an "Attempted Terrorist Attack"
The United Arab Emirates said Saturday that the flydubai co-pilot who attacked his captain with a crash axe aboard flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a terrorist attack — the first time Emirati authorities have described the incident that way.
What the prosecutor general said
UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, in a statement carried by state news agency WAM, said the co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with a crash axe — the emergency tool kept in the cockpit — and attempted to take control of the aircraft's flight controls.
Investigators are still working to establish the full circumstances, the motive, and whether there are any related connections, Al Shamsi said. Physical and digital evidence is being examined, and final findings will be announced through official channels once investigative and technical procedures are complete.
The co-pilot
The co-pilot has been identified by multiple news organizations as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, Reuters reported. UAE authorities had not officially confirmed his identity at the time of the statement.
What happened Wednesday
Disaster was averted after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, who had attacked the captain in what Israeli officials described as an apparent attempt to crash the plane carrying more than 170 passengers and crew.
A reserve flydubai pilot traveling on the flight took control of the aircraft and landed it at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities.
A multi-country investigation
An Israeli government official told Reuters earlier that Israeli investigators would take part alongside Emirati authorities in the UAE-led investigation, examining both what happened and the suspect's background and possible motives.
Flydubai said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation and that it was not in a position to comment further.
Source: Reuters — read the original report
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