FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain, UAE calls it attempted terrorism

2026-10-03 · Finance · United Arab Emirates · Oman

A FlyDubai co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe and attempted to take control of Flight 1073, according to the UAE prosecutor general. The attacker, Hamam al-Hammami, had been banned from flying by Oman for radical views before the airline hired him.

Why it matters：This incident raises serious questions about aviation security screening and hiring practices, potentially prompting stricter vetting and regulatory reviews for airlines and pilots.

Key points

• The co-pilot used a crash axe in the cockpit assault.
• Oman had previously banned him from flying over radical views, but FlyDubai later hired him.

Sources (original reporting)

• CNBC
• The Wall Street Journal

More stories from this day

• G7 to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude reserves
• Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger to be named Skydance
• US adds only 29,000 jobs in September; Treasury yields rise
• DOJ won't reopen criminal probe into former Fed Chair Powell
• California subpoenas OpenAI over AI agents used in hacking incidents
• Bipartisan US Senate deal aims to speed energy permitting