An Omani national serving as co-pilot on a Flydubai flight is accused of planning a suicide mission involving the aircraft he was flying on 30 September. The reported targets included Ben Gurion Airport, a tall building in Tel Aviv or a US military base in Jordan.
The allegations concern Flydubai flight 1073, which carried 174 passengers and 8 crew members. Hamam al-Hamami was among the crew. According to the reported account, he intended to attack Captain Smit Machar in the cockpit before taking control of the aircraft.
The alleged motive was retaliation for what Hamami viewed as Israeli actions in Gaza. Israeli media reports said he described the plan during questioning by authorities in the UAE and claimed he had acted alone. The reports also said he wanted to die as a martyr after crashing the aircraft.
What investigators say happened
The reported plan was to begin about two and a half hours after departure from Dubai. At that point, the aircraft would be in Jordanian airspace before continuing towards Israel. Hamami allegedly intended to use a crash axe kept in the cockpit to strike the captain from behind.
Investigators said the aircraft would first continue on a normal course so that people at Ben Gurion Airport would not become suspicious. If that option failed, the alleged backup targets were a building in Tel Aviv and a US military facility in Jordan.
The account says Hamami attacked Captain Machar after the flight had been in the air for two and a half hours. Machar opened the cockpit door, alerting passengers to the danger. Passengers then restrained Hamami, while two off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft took control.
The aircraft was subsequently landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, according to the report. The account does not describe the passengers or crew as having suffered deaths or injuries in the incident.
Earlier alleged planning
The reported investigation says Hamami had considered carrying out a similar plan in July. He was allegedly serving as co-pilot on that flight as well, but changed his mind after learning that a friend was among the cabin crew.
A later roster reportedly showed that Hamami would be assigned to the Dubai–Tel Aviv service on 30 September. Investigators said he used his earlier flights on the route to study the journey, Ben Gurion Airport and its air traffic control arrangements.
Hamami allegedly joined Flydubai in March 2025 after studying the regular routes used by flights travelling to Tel Aviv. The report said he had flown as co-pilot to Tel Aviv in June and made three or four further trips on the route.
Reported employment history
According to the account, Hamami was born in the UAE. His father was an Omani citizen and his mother was Syrian. He studied in the UAE, later travelled to England for aviation education and spent some time studying in Melbourne, Australia, without completing the course. He then trained as a pilot in New Zealand.
He reportedly began his professional career with Oman Air. The account says s found on his mobile phone and laptop showed support for Al-Qaeda figure Ayman al-Zawahiri and Palestinians. Oman Air allegedly stopped him from flying after officials became aware of those views, moving him to an administrative role.
The report says he left Oman Air after about 7 years, travelled to Morocco in 2025 and joined the Moroccan airline Marco Air. He later left that job and moved to the UAE, where he joined Flydubai in March 2025.
The account alleges that Oman did not share information about the earlier aviation restriction with the wider aviation industry and that Flydubai did not carry out a sufficient background check. These claims remain part of the reported investigation.
Security questions around the flight
The report also raises questions about the screening of pilots assigned to flights entering Israel. It says information on pilots and co-pilots, including their names and nationalities, is shared with Israel's Transport Security Ministry department 24 to 48 hours before arrival.
That department is reported to forward the information to Mossad and Shin Bet for checks. The account further says Israel has arrangements with international airlines intended to prevent pilots or co-pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from operating flights into the country.
Oman has not recognised Israel as a state since 1948, according to the report, and the two countries do not have diplomatic relations. Flydubai is said to have provided Israel with information about the flight's pilot and co-pilot on 28 September. The reported case therefore raises questions about how Hamami was permitted to operate the service.
Investigation remains open
The UAE authorities are continuing to question Hamami in Abu Dhabi. Israeli investigators are also reported to be examining whether anyone trained, recruited or assisted him, including a possible country or terrorist organisation.
The report says other crew members were questioned after the incident and were cleared of involvement. It also says that, if Hamami is found guilty and faces terrorism charges, UAE law could allow the death penalty by firing squad. That outcome has not been established, because the investigation and any legal proceedings remain unresolved.
Conclusion
The reported case centres on an alleged attempt by a Flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight and crash it at one of three possible targets. Authorities are continuing to investigate his background, the security checks before the flight and whether anyone else was involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is accused in the case?
Hamam al-Hamami, an Omani national and Flydubai co-pilot, is accused of planning the attempted takeover and crash.
Q. Which flight was involved?
The reported incident involved Flydubai flight 1073, travelling from Dubai towards Tel Aviv on 30 September.
Q. What targets were allegedly considered?
The reported options were Ben Gurion Airport, a tall building in Tel Aviv and a US military base in Jordan.
Q. How was the alleged attempt stopped?
Captain Smit Machar opened the cockpit door after the reported attack, passengers restrained Hamami and two off-duty pilots took control.
Q. Where did the aircraft land?
The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, according to the report.
Q. Did investigators clear the other crew members?
The reported account says the other crew members were questioned and cleared of involvement.
Q. Is the investigation finished?
No. UAE authorities are continuing to question Hamami, while Israeli investigators are examining possible training, recruitment or assistance.
Q. What penalty could Hamami face?
The report says a terrorism conviction under UAE law could carry the death penalty by firing squad. No conviction has been reported in the supplied material.
