Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe during flight from UAE to Israel
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A co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel launched a violent attack on the aircraft's captain mid-flight, attempting to seize control of the plane. Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, 29, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with an onboard crash axe, severely wounding him, whilst the aircraft plummeted 14,000 feet in 29 seconds. Passengers and crew restrained al-Hammami and regained control of the aircraft, forcing it to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident represents a serious security breach and potential threat, with al-Hammami's motivations being investigated by Saudi authorities.
According to the captain's account to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, al-Hammami asked him to pray before launching the assault with multiple blows to the head. Intelligence sources now reveal that al-Hammami had planned the attack before even joining Flydubai, having attempted to gain employment with several other airlines and repeatedly visited Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to gather intelligence. His stated intention was to kill the captain undetected, then crash the plane into either Ben-Gurion Airport or the Azrieli Towers near Israel's military headquarters. Al-Hammami had previously aborted an attempt in July when he realised a friendly crew member was aboard the flight.
- Co-pilot attacked captain with an axe; passengers restrained him and landed the plane safely
- He had planned the hijack before joining Flydubai and gathered intelligence at Ben-Gurion Airport
- He reportedly intended to crash into Ben-Gurion Airport or military targets in Tel Aviv
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On a Flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe, causing severe injury. The aircraft descended rapidly during the assault, but passengers and crew managed to restrain the attacker and regain control, landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, aged 29, is under investigation by Saudi authorities. Intelligence agencies have discovered the attack was pre-planned, with evidence suggesting al-Hammami had deliberately sought employment with Flydubai in order to carry out the assault.
Investigators have discovered that al-Hammami had visited Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on multiple occasions prior to the flight, conducting intelligence gathering. According to intelligence sources, he stated his intention was to crash the aircraft into an Israeli airport or military facility. He had previously attempted a similar attack on an earlier flight but abandoned it after realising someone he knew was aboard.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Flydubai co-pilot asked captain to pray – then hit him over the back of the head with an axe: ‘The blows kept coming, one after another’”.