Flydubai co-pilot stabs captain during attempted cockpit takeover
A passenger on Flydubai Flight 1703 bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv used a crash ax—a standard emergency tool stored inside aircraft flight decks—during an attempted cockpit takeover that caused the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to plunge over 15,000 feet on October 1, 2026.
Co-Pilot Stabs Captain During Extreme Descent
Flight 1703 was carrying approximately 180 passengers when the co-pilot repeatedly stabbed the captain, Smit Machchhar, inside the cockpit. According to accounts from passenger Yaniv Hayoun, the injured captain fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and crew members subsequently stormed the cockpit, overpowering the attacker and taking control of the aircraft.
The violent struggle triggered an extreme descent. The aircraft lost 15,000 feet of altitude in roughly one minute, generating forces so severe that part of the plane’s tail rudder was torn away. Daniel Schlichter, a passenger seated in the second row, said that two pilots who were deadheading on the flight—a practice where airline crew travel in passenger seats to position themselves for upcoming assignments—hurdled the scrum of passengers, entered the cockpit, and closed the door to stabilize the aircraft.
The two deadheading pilots spent roughly 10 minutes stabilizing the aircraft before making a mayday call and directing the plane toward Saudi Arabia. After about 45 minutes of uncertainty among passengers regarding who was flying the aircraft, announcements confirmed a diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed safely.
Suspect Had Extremist Views and Previous Airline Roles
Background details regarding the suspect emerged rapidly following the incident. CNN reported that Hamam al-Hammami was removed from his previous position at Oman’s national airline, Oman Air, following concerns regarding extremist views. He subsequently completed a three-month training period with Royal Air Maroc in 2025 as part of a pre-employment process but was not selected for hire, according to statements provided to the Associated Press.
Hours after the attack, a LinkedIn profile belonging to al-Hammami published two rapid posts featuring cockpit video clips filmed inside a Boeing 737 MAX. CNN geolocated the footage to Dubai International Airport, capturing El Al and Arkia Israeli airline planes. The clips displayed flight number OMA624 and the date October 11, 2023, matching the period al-Hammami was employed by Oman Air.
Trump Warns Iran as Flydubai Suspends Israel Flights
The incident triggered immediate geopolitical reactions. Fox News reported that Donald Trump warned Iran of fresh strikes if Tehran is found to have been involved in the Flydubai plane incident. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with passengers upon their return to Tel Aviv, including Yaniv Hayoun, who recounted subduing the attacker.
In response to the emergency, Flydubai suspended flights to Israel, which had recently become the carrier’s highest frequency market. The disclosures surrounding al-Hammami’s employment history across multiple regional airlines have raised concerns regarding aviation background checks, pilot vetting procedures, and the security protocols governing access to commercial aircraft cockpits.