Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi announced that the investigation into flydubai flight FZ1073 showed that the co-pilot set out to carry out a terrorist operation, attacking the captain with the emergency ax in the cockpit and trying to take control of the flight controls (WAM, Khaleej Times, Asharq, Al Jazeera Net). The aircraft took off from Dubai on September 30 bound for Israel with 174 passengers and eight crew members; a relief pilot took over flying it, and it landed at Tabuk. The Saudi Interior Ministry said on October 1 that the preliminary investigation showed the co-pilot attacked the captain. Reuters, citing sources, reported his name and Omani nationality, and the UAE authorities did not confirm that. Australian police announced they are examining his ties to Australia. The motive was not announced, and no party has been established as responsible.
The incident is an attack inside the cockpit of a commercial flight at the height of a regional war, and it touches Dubai’s reputation as an aviation hub and travelers’ confidence. Any statements about “the sending party” quickly turn into politics, so it matters to separate what the judiciary has established from what politicians have said.
If you are traveling through Dubai, no change to travel procedures has been officially announced, but expect tighter crew screening and security. Follow statements from flydubai and the General Civil Aviation Authority for any change to flights.
One view: The criminal investigation is what will settle the motive and connections, and any talk of a state or party before that is speculation.
The other view: The prosecution’s description of the incident as a terrorist act gives reasons to treat it as a regional security case, not an individual incident.
The only documented official account is what the Attorney General said: an attack and an attempt to seize control. Everything else, the name, the motive and the Australian background, is source reporting that has not been confirmed. We follow the statement of final findings, and we check any evidence linking the incident to an outside party before attributing it.
UAE Attorney General via WAM, Khaleej Times, Asharq, Al Jazeera Net, Euronews Arabic, Reuters (via TimesLIVE) (Oct. 2–4, 2026)
UAE Attorney General: flydubai co-pilot set out to carry out a terrorist operation; investigation continues
Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency ax and tried to take control of the flight controls of flight FZ1073 on September 30. The motives have not yet been announced, and no party’s responsibility has been established.
The UAE’s Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, announced, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and as relayed by Khaleej Times, the Asharq channel and Al Jazeera Net, that the investigation into the incident on flydubai flight FZ1073 showed that the co-pilot set out to carry out a terrorist operation. He said the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with the emergency ax and tried to take control of the flight controls. The aircraft had taken off from Dubai on Wednesday, September 30, bound for Israel, with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board.
Passengers and crew overpowered the attacker, and a relief pilot who was on board took over flying the aircraft, which landed at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Interior Ministry said on October 1 that the preliminary investigation showed the co-pilot had attacked the captain. Reuters, citing sources, reported that the co-pilot is an Omani national named Hammam al-Hamami (29), and the UAE authorities have not confirmed the name. The Indian captain, Sumit Machhar, was seriously injured and underwent surgery, according to Indian reports.
The motive has not been announced so far. Media outlets reported, citing sources, that the suspect was influenced by extremist ideas and that the Sultanate of Oman had previously barred him from flying; these are accounts the authorities have not confirmed. Benjamin Netanyahu said the party that sent him would pay a “heavy price,” and President Trump said he believes Iran is involved; neither presented any evidence publicly. Royal Air Maroc denied, according to Euronews, that he had worked for it. In Australia, police said on Sunday that a counterterrorism team is examining his ties to the country, according to Australian reports.
Khaleej Times reported that flydubai declined to comment further until the investigation is complete, and one report said it temporarily suspended its flights to Tel Aviv at the authorities’ request. In DailyDrop’s reading, the case puts cockpit security and pilot screening front and center at a global aviation hub like Dubai, but judging the motives is premature. Today we follow the final results of the investigation and any statement on screening procedures.