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Hammam al-Hammami

Hammam al-Hammami is an Omani national and former Flydubai co-pilot who attempted to crash a commercial flight into Israeli territory in October 2026. He was subdued by passengers and is currently in Saudi custody.

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Hammam al-Hammami is the primary suspect in a major aviation terror attempt targeting Israel in late 2026. An Omani national with a professional background in regional aviation, al-Hammami served as a co-pilot for the Emirati carrier Flydubai. On Wednesday, October 1, 2026, during flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, al-Hammami allegedly stabbed the aircraft's captain and attempted to seize control of the plane with the intent of crashing it into Israeli territory. The attack was thwarted by the swift intervention of Israeli passengers on board, who subdued al-Hammami before he could complete the maneuver. The aircraft subsequently performed an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where al-Hammami was taken into custody by Saudi security forces.

Subsequent investigations have revealed a significant pattern of radicalization. A CNN investigation uncovered that al-Hammami’s social media presence, including a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, contained evidence of surveillance of Israeli aviation targets. This included cockpit-view videos of El Al and Arkia aircraft. Furthermore, his digital footprint showed an affinity for al-Qaeda leadership and a history of extremist religious and misogynistic posts dating back to 2021. Professionally, al-Hammami held an aviation management degree from a UK university and had previously been employed by Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc. The incident has raised critical questions regarding security screening protocols for flight crews operating routes to Israel and the broader regional threat posed by radicalized individuals within the aviation industry. As of early October 2026, he remains in Saudi custody while international investigations continue.

04 · Related Coverage

Full Reports

Flydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot
Tzvi Menas and Eyal Shlichter, two Israeli passengers who helped neutralize the Omani co-pilot on Flydubai flight FZ 1073, told the New York Post that cabin crew members requested they release the attacker during the mid-air incident. The passengers stated they refused the request, maintaining control over the suspect who had already stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft into Israeli territory.
World reports confirm: Al-Mami, Omani-Syrian Flight 1073 suspect, investigated for alleged crash plot
International media outlets have confirmed that the suspect involved in the Flydubai Flight 1073 security incident, an Omani-Syrian national identified as Al-Mami (Hammam al-Hammami), is under formal investigation for a plot to crash the aircraft into Israeli territory. The confirmation aligns with early reports from the day of the attack, as investigators now examine evidence that the co-pilot may have visited Israel for reconnaissance just days before the incident.
Italian investigation reveals Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, shut down both engines over Saudi desert
A detailed investigation published Sunday by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera has provided a minute-by-minute account of the September 30 attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight FZ 1073. The report reveals that Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked the captain with an emergency axe and disabled both engines over the Saudi desert, intending to crash the aircraft into a Tel Aviv skyscraper before Israeli passengers and off-duty pilots regained control.

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Full Reports

Flydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot

Tzvi Menas and Eyal Shlichter, two Israeli passengers who helped neutralize the Omani co-pilot on Flydubai flight FZ 1073, told the New York Post that cabin crew members requested they release the attacker during the mid-air incident. The passengers stated they refused the request, maintaining control over the suspect who had already stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft into Israeli territory.

World reports confirm: Al-Mami, Omani-Syrian Flight 1073 suspect, investigated for alleged crash plot

International media outlets have confirmed that the suspect involved in the Flydubai Flight 1073 security incident, an Omani-Syrian national identified as Al-Mami (Hammam al-Hammami), is under formal investigation for a plot to crash the aircraft into Israeli territory. The confirmation aligns with early reports from the day of the attack, as investigators now examine evidence that the co-pilot may have visited Israel for reconnaissance just days before the incident.

Italian investigation reveals Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, shut down both engines over Saudi desert

A detailed investigation published Sunday by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera has provided a minute-by-minute account of the September 30 attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight FZ 1073. The report reveals that Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked the captain with an emergency axe and disabled both engines over the Saudi desert, intending to crash the aircraft into a Tel Aviv skyscraper before Israeli passengers and off-duty pilots regained control.