Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Al-Qaeda Praises Flydubai Attack, Calls for Copycat Aircraft Strikes
A publication called Al-Bayan praised an attempt to take over a Flydubai plane.
It called for attacks on planes carrying people it described as enemies.
The article mentioned the September 11 attacks and the Flydubai incident.
During the flight, the co-pilot attacked the captain in the cockpit.
Reports differ about whether the attacker used a crash axe or stabbed the captain.
The captain opened the cockpit door, and passengers and crew helped stop the attacker.
Another pair of pilots landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Reports give different dates for the incident: September 30 or October 1.
The UAE is leading an investigation and has classified the assault as a terrorist attack.
Al-Bayan, a weekly publication described as launched by Al-Qaeda supporters, praised the attempted takeover of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 and urged attacks on aircraft carrying Americans, Israelis and others it called enemies of Islam.
The Arabic-language editorial, titled “Between September 11 and September 30,” invoked the 9/11 attacks and included imagery of a plane striking the World Trade Center alongside references to the Flydubai incident.
Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit; reports describe a crash axe in some accounts and stabbing or stab wounds in others.
Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue al-Hammami; a second pair of pilots landed the plane safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Reports differ on whether the incident occurred September 30 or October 1; the UAE is leading the investigation and classified the assault as a terrorist attack.
- Who
- Al-Bayan praised the attempted takeover; the incident involved co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami and Captain Smit Machchhar.
- What
- Al-Bayan praised the attempted takeover of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 and called for similar attacks on aircraft.
- When
- The call appeared in an edition reported on October 2. Reports give September 30 and October 1 as dates for the flight incident.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The publication urged attacks on aircraft carrying people it described as enemies of Islam.
Some reports
Other reports or unresolved questions
Weapon used in the cockpit assault
Some reports
Some accounts say al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe.
Other reports or unresolved questions
Other accounts describe stabbing or multiple stab wounds; the reports do not resolve the discrepancy.
Date of the incident
Some reports
Some reports date the attempted takeover to September 30.
Other reports or unresolved questions
Other reports say it occurred on October 1.
Social media activity after the incident
Some reports
A report says posts appeared on al-Hammami’s LinkedIn and Instagram accounts about nine hours after the incident, while he was in custody.
Other reports or unresolved questions
It remains unclear who uploaded the posts or whether they had been scheduled earlier.
Earlier scrutiny in Oman
Some reports
A report citing people familiar with the matter says al-Hammami had faced a flying ban or removal from active flying duties in Oman over alleged extremist views.
Other reports or unresolved questions
It remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns with other countries or airlines, and what the reported radicalisation involved.
- Publication
- Al-Bayan, described as a weekly publication launched by Al-Qaeda supporters
- Editorial
- “Between September 11 and September 30”
- Call to action
- The editorial urged attacks on aircraft carrying Americans, Israelis and others it called enemies of Islam.
- Flight
- Flydubai Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Reported incident dates
- September 30 in some reports; October 1 in others
- Cockpit assault
- Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar; reports differ on whether the attack involved a crash axe or stabbing.
- Landing and investigation
- The plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport; the UAE is leading the investigation and classified the assault as a terrorist attack.
Sources
Al Qaeda linked magazine calls for flydubai like attacks
Flydubai flight hijack plot: Terror group Al Qaeda hails incident, calls for copycat hijackings
Al Qaeda praises Flydubai attack, calls for copycat strikes on US and Israeli planes
War isn’t over
