JavaScript Required

Jumpseat Aerospace News requires JavaScript to function. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings to continue.

Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack, UAE Says

October 3, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Flydubai co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist attack.
Co-pilot stabbed captain with a crash ax.
Two other pilots took control and landed the plane safely.
Incident raises questions about aviation hiring background checks.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Upgrade

Strategic Implications

This incident may indicate a need for enhanced background checks in aviation hiring, which could impact the industry's ability to recruit and retain pilots. The attack suggests a potential security threat, which could have significant implications for airline safety and security protocols.

Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Strategic Implications.

Upgrade

What Happened

Investigation Underway After Stabbing Incident On Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight

A Flydubai co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv by stabbing the captain with a crash ax, according to UAE investigators. The incident, which was thwarted by two other pilots who took control and landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, has raised questions about background checks in aviation hiring. The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns about his radical ideological views. This incident was first reported by Tempo English, citing Emirati state news agency WAM and other sources.

Source | Originally Published: October 3, 2026

Companies Mentioned