The attempted takeover of a flydubai passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv was not, investigators now suspect, an impulsive act in the cockpit. According to Israeli officials cited by Israeli media, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami told Emirati interrogators that he had planned to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport before he was even hired by flydubai. NDTV

The alleged motive was deeply political and personal. Channel 12, citing Israeli officials familiar with the investigation, reported that al-Hammami said he acted “in revenge for Gaza” and wanted to die as a martyr. The claims have not been independently established in court, and the investigation remains underway.

Israeli Shin Bet Joins UAE Interrogation

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has sent interrogators to the UAE as authorities work to reconstruct what happened aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073.

The involvement reflects the seriousness of the case. Israeli officials are trying to establish whether al-Hammami acted alone, how long he had been planning an attack and whether anyone else knew about or assisted his alleged preparations. Israeli authorities have reportedly been receiving continuous updates from the UAE. The Times of India

According to reporting cited by The Times of Israel and other outlets, al-Hammami told interrogators that he had applied to airlines operating flights to Tel Aviv after searching for opportunities to fly there.

One source briefed on the investigation also claimed that al-Hammami had previously operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier in 2026. During that flight, he allegedly considered hijacking the aircraft and crashing it, but ultimately abandoned the idea. NewsBytes

Those claims are now among the central questions facing investigators.

What Happened Inside the Cockpit?

The incident unfolded on September 30 while the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was in the air.

Al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency crash axe. The aircraft subsequently entered a steep descent, triggering an emergency response as the crew struggled to regain control.

According to accounts of the incident, Machchhar, despite being injured, managed to open the cockpit door and alert an off-duty pilot who was travelling as a passenger. Passengers and crew members then rushed into the cockpit and helped restrain the accused co-pilot. The Washington Post

The aircraft was eventually diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely in Tabuk.

The UAE prosecutor general has described the episode as a terrorist attack, while international investigators continue examining the suspect’s motive and background. The Washington Post

A Flight That Came Close to Disaster

The danger did not end when passengers subdued al-Hammami.

Investigators say he allegedly attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls after his initial plan was disrupted. Off-duty pilots helped take over the situation and emergency procedures were initiated.

The aircraft was carrying more than 170 people, with reports putting the total at about 180, most of them Israeli passengers. A successful attempt to deliberately crash the aircraft near Tel Aviv could have resulted in mass casualties.

Reports that Israel scrambled fighter aircraft during the emergency have added another layer to the investigation. Israeli forces initially faced uncertainty over whether the sudden loss of control represented a hijacking or another catastrophic threat. The Indian Express

Questions About Al-Hammami’s Background

The investigation is also examining how al-Hammami reached the cockpit of an international passenger aircraft despite earlier concerns about his conduct.

The Associated Press and other outlets have reported that al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman amid concerns over alleged extremist views. AP News

Reports have also raised questions about his time abroad, including flight training in New Zealand and studies in Australia. New Zealand police are reviewing records connected to his earlier training, while Australian authorities are examining his background there. Financial Times

That has widened the investigation beyond the UAE and Israel.

Authorities are now looking at recruitment procedures, security clearances, previous employment records and possible warning signs that may have existed before he was permitted to operate commercial flights.

Why the Ben Gurion Airport Claim Matters

The alleged plan to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport is particularly significant.

Ben Gurion is Israel’s main international airport and a major civilian aviation hub. A deliberate attempt to bring down a passenger aircraft there would have represented an attack not only on people aboard the flight but potentially on one of the country's most important civilian infrastructure sites.

According to investigators cited by Israeli media, al-Hammami's alleged plan existed before his employment with flydubai. That claim, if ultimately substantiated, would shift the case from a spontaneous cockpit assault toward a potentially long-planned aviation attack. The Times of India

Investigators Are Looking Beyond the Flight

Israeli officials have also reportedly examined al-Hammami’s travel history.

Channel 12 reported that a Mossad official told Israeli Cabinet ministers that al-Hammami had made short visits to several countries considered hostile to Israel. The significance of those trips remains unclear, and there is no established public evidence from the reporting that they were directly connected to the attempted attack. Hindustan Times

At the same time, investigators are reportedly examining whether the suspect had links to extremist networks or whether he acted independently.

One Israeli source cited by ITV News said information available so far indicated that al-Hammami probably acted alone. ITVX

That assessment could change as investigators examine communications, travel records, financial activity and his history in aviation.

The Bigger Aviation Security Question

The case has exposed a difficult problem for international aviation: how much information about a pilot’s personal conduct and security history is shared across borders?

An airline can conduct its own recruitment checks, but pilots often work across jurisdictions. A concern raised in one country may not automatically produce the same restriction elsewhere.

That is why the al-Hammami case is attracting attention well beyond Israel and the UAE. Reports that he had previously faced restrictions in Oman have prompted questions about whether warning information was properly communicated and assessed before he was allowed to operate flights. Al Jazeera

Those questions are likely to remain central as investigators reconstruct his professional history.

Key Takeaways

• Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, is accused of attacking the captain of flydubai Flight FZ1073.
• Israeli officials reportedly say he told interrogators he wanted to act “in revenge for Gaza.” NDTV
• Investigators say he allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport.
• Captain Smit Machchhar and passengers helped prevent the alleged takeover.
• The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely.
• Israel’s Shin Bet is participating in the investigation in the UAE.
• Authorities are examining al-Hammami’s previous aviation employment, overseas training and possible extremist connections.
• Israeli sources currently believe he may have acted alone, although the investigation is continuing. ITVX

What Investigators Need to Establish Next

The most important questions are no longer limited to what happened during those few minutes in the cockpit.

Investigators must determine whether al-Hammami genuinely planned the attack before joining flydubai, whether he had selected the flight or destination deliberately, and whether anyone else knew about his intentions.

They also need to establish how previous concerns about his background were handled.

For aviation authorities, that may prove to be the most consequential part of the case. Preventing another cockpit attack will depend not only on what happened aboard FZ1073, but on understanding what warning signs existed before the aircraft ever left Dubai.

The investigation is still developing. As more records and testimony emerge, the focus will likely move from the dramatic struggle inside the cockpit to the quieter decisions that allowed the suspect to reach it in the first place.

Disclaimer & Source Note: This article is based on publicly reported information from international media and third-party sources available at the time of publication. Allegations and statements attributed to investigators or officials remain subject to verification as the UAE-led investigation continues.