Authorities probing an attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight have concluded that the incident was a suspected terrorist plot, according to findings cited from an ongoing investigation. The co-pilot allegedly attacked the aircraft’s captain using an emergency axe kept on board.
The flight was travelling from Dubai in the UAE to Tel Aviv in Israel on September 30. During the incident, the Indian captain—identified as Smidt Machar from Maharashtra—was seriously injured while trying to stop the takeover attempt.
Despite his injuries, the captain is reported to have helped ensure the safety of everyone on board, including 174 passengers, taking the total number of people on the aircraft to 180.
Investigators have identified the arrested co-pilot as Hamam Al Hammami, 29, an Omani national. The probe claims he spent significant time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, and was influenced by extremist ideology.
The investigation further states that he completed pilot training with Oman Air in 2024, but was later barred from flying after alleged links to terrorist groups surfaced on his social media, and he was removed from the airline in February last year. After leaving Oman, he reportedly worked briefly with Royal Air Maroc before joining Flydubai about eight months ago; officials say he posted terror-related content hours before the attempted hijacking, and suspect he may have planned to crash the aircraft deliberately.
