In brief
During a Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight on 30 September, co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami struck the captain with an axe and tried to seize control. Passengers overpowered him, and the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a rapid descent. Australian federal police are probing al‑Hammami’s past, including a student visa held between 2015 and 2017, to ascertain any radical influences. The incident has prompted a joint investigation by Australian state police, the national security agency, and UAE prosecutors.
On 30 September, a Flydubai aircraft en route to Tel Aviv was attacked by co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami, who hurled a crash‑axe at the captain and attempted to seize control. Passengers reacted swiftly, overpowering the co‑pilot and restoring order to the cockpit. The plane was forced to descend dramatically, reaching 17,000 feet, before two reserve pilots diverted the jet to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
Australian federal police have opened an investigation into al‑Hammami’s ties to Australia. The investigation has been handed to state police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, with an update promised at the appropriate time. Earlier reports reveal that the co‑pilot held a student visa from 2015 to 2017, graduating from a distance‑learning program at Buckinghamshire New University in 2023, yet never trained as a pilot there.
The UAE prosecutor has characterised the act as a “terrorist” incident, while counter‑terrorism officials are examining whether al‑Hammami was radicalised during his Australian residency. The co‑pilot was arrested following the emergency landing and is currently in custody in Saudi Arabia, where he is being questioned.
After the incident, Captain Smit Machchhar sustained injuries but survived; he later recovered and was airlifted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi. The international response has highlighted aviation security concerns, especially in the run‑up to conflicts in the region.
