Flydubai Attack: Key Findings of Initial Probe; Investigators Uncover Why was Omani Pilot Banned & His Background, Weapon Used

The initial Saudi investigation into Flydubai flight FZ1073 has confirmed that the Indian captain was assaulted by his Omani co-pilot before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, but numerous critical questions about the incident remain unanswered.

Saudi Arabia’s Initial Probe on Flydubai Attack

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said its preliminary investigation uncovered that the pilot was assaulted by his co-pilot, resulting in injuries to both men. The inquiry was conducted by Saudi authorities with the participation of a security team from the United Arab Emirates.

The Boeing 737 flight, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk after the incident. Saudi authorities said the aircraft landed safely with 174 passengers and eight crew members aboard. 

The captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital for treatment. Saudi authorities later said the two pilots were returned to the UAE with an Emirati security team after their conditions improved.

What Happened Inside the Cockpit?

Flydubai initially described the event only as an “altercation” in the flight deck and said the crew secured the aircraft and diverted it safely. More detailed accounts from Israeli officials and witnesses allege that the co-pilot attacked the captain and that the aircraft later witnessed  a series of steep descents.

Reuters reported that the aircraft dropped more than 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds during its most dramatic descent. It sent emergency signals, including the globally recognised 7700 code for a general emergency and 7500 for unlawful interference. The aircraft eventually diverted and landed in Tabuk.

How Was the Flydubai Aircraft Brought Under Control?

According to accounts reported after the incident, the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and owerpower the co-pilot. A passenger with aviation expertise helped stabilise the aircraft, while two off-duty pilots travelling aboard later took control and helped land the plane safely.

The UAE has also launched its own investigation into whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning or direction. Authorities have urged the public to avoid circulating unverified information while investigations continue.

UAE Investigations on Weapon Used to Attack

The co-pilot of the Flydubai plane attacked the pilot with a crash axe in a bid to take control of the aircraft, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.

Investigators, Sources Uncover Key Datils about Omani Pilot, his Social Media

According to two sources cited by the CNN, the Omani pilot had earlier been removed from a position at Oman’s national airline following concerns over his alleged extremist views.

The pilot was identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen, by the sources and an Israeli official. According to one of the sources, al-Hammami was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother and spent several years living in the UAE.

A LinkedIn profile under the name Hamam al-Hammami mentioned that he had worked for Oman Air for around seven years, leaving the airline in February 2025. The profile said he later joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. It did not list Flydubai as an employer. One of CNN’s sources confirmed that the profile belonged to the pilot involved in the Flydubai incident. The profile has since been deleted.

According to a regional diplomat cited by CNN, al-Hammami was removed from flight training at Oman Air because of concerns about his alleged radical views. The diplomat said he was later assigned another role within the airline rather than continuing with flight training.

The CNN also reported that the profile bearing the name 'Hamam Alhammami' on LinkedIn had published several clips showing the cockpits of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, the plane linked to the Israeli airline El Al. The video ended with a photo of Ayman al-Zawahiri, a terrorist who headed al-Qaeda after the death of Osama Bin Laden, and a photo of Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who killed nine people in a 2009 suicide bombing in the US.

Another post reportedly featured an AI-generated image of Islam's three holiest sites in Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem, with a poem in the background talking about rejecting humiliation, not fearing death, and defending one's dignity.

However, the authenticity of the account could not be validated yet.