The United Arab Emirates has officially confirmed details of the dramatic incident aboard a Flydubai flight that took place on September 30, 2026. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi issued a statement characterizing the co-pilot's actions as an attempted terrorist attack.
Chronology and details of the dangerous flight
The attack occurred during flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv aboard a Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 174 passengers. The co-pilot, identified by sources as Omani citizen Hammam al-Hammami, used an emergency axe from the cockpit to attack the aircraft captain. As a result of the aggressive actions, the commander was injured, and the plane experienced a sharp drop of 4,267 meters in less than 30 seconds. Thanks to the prompt and coordinated reaction of the crew and passengers who prevented control takeover, the airliner safely made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Investigation and official statements
UAE authorities are conducting a large-scale investigation, examining physical and digital evidence, as well as potential links and motives of the suspect. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot had been influenced by extremist ideology and noted the participation of Israeli investigators in joint verification measures. Experts continue to determine whether the attacker acted alone or under anyone's instructions.
Contradictory data
During the coverage of the incident in various sources and social networks, discrepancies arose regarding the nationality and citizenship of the crew members, including unconfirmed rumors about their Eastern European origin. However, official agencies of the UAE and Israel promptly refuted these speculations, confirming the official status of the suspect as an Omani citizen and emphasizing the continuation of a transnational investigation to establish the true causes and potential accomplices of the terrorist attack.
