2 hrs ago
Report Says Omani Co-Pilot May Have Cut flydubai Engines
A newspaper reported that a co-pilot attacked the captain on a flydubai plane.
The report says the co-pilot planned to take the plane to Tel Aviv and crash it into a building.
The captain was badly hurt but managed to open the cockpit door.
Passengers and two off-duty pilots stepped in to help.
The plane dropped quickly, and people aboard helped stop it from losing more height.
Investigators are checking whether the co-pilot switched off the engines, but that has not been confirmed.
The pilots got the plane under control and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The captain went to hospital, and Saudi authorities took custody of the co-pilot.
Israel described the incident as a terror attack.
Corriere della Sera reported that co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a flydubai Boeing 737.
Citing Israeli intelligence, the report alleges al-Hammami planned to kill Machchhar and crash the plane into a Tel Aviv skyscraper.
The aircraft reportedly descended 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds after the autopilot was switched off and the control stick pushed forward.
Investigators are reportedly examining whether al-Hammami moved the engine fuel switches from “Run” to “Cutoff”; the articles do not confirm the engines were shut down.
Passengers and two off-duty pilots intervened; the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk, while Machchhar was hospitalized and al-Hammami was handed to Saudi authorities.
- Who
- Omani co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami, Captain Smit Machchhar, passengers and two off-duty pilots.
- What
- A reported cockpit attack and attempted takeover of a flydubai Boeing 737; investigators are reportedly examining whether its engine fuel switches were moved to cutoff.
- Where
- A flydubai flight associated with travel to Tel Aviv; it landed at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The supplied articles do not definitively state when the incident occurred.
- Why
- The newspaper report, citing Israeli intelligence, alleges the co-pilot planned to kill the captain and crash the aircraft into a Tel Aviv skyscraper.
Newspaper report
Unconfirmed details
Whether the engines were shut down
Newspaper report
The report says cabin emergency lights may indicate loss of main electrical power, potentially because generators were turned off or both engines were shut down.
Unconfirmed details
The articles say investigators are examining whether the fuel switches were moved to cutoff; they do not establish that the engines were shut down.
Alleged plan and motive
Newspaper report
Citing Israeli intelligence, the newspaper alleges al-Hammami intended to kill the captain and crash the plane into a Tel Aviv skyscraper, then tried to crash it in a desert area.
Unconfirmed details
These intentions are attributed to the newspaper's reconstruction and its cited intelligence source, rather than presented as independently confirmed findings.
Key facts
- Aircraft
- A flydubai Boeing 737; one article identifies the flight as FZ1073.
- Reported co-pilot
- Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national.
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar, described as an Indian captain.
- Reported descent
- About 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds.
- Reported speed
- More than 970 kilometres per hour.
- Engine-switch claim
- Investigators are reportedly examining whether the fuel switches were moved from “Run” to “Cutoff”; engine shutdown is not confirmed.
- Landing and aftermath
- The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk; Machchhar was hospitalized and al-Hammami was handed to Saudi authorities.
- Israeli response
- Israel described the incident as a terror attack and is investigating how the pilot was cleared to fly toward Tel Aviv.
Sources
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