Developing StoryFlyDubai Attempted Hijacking (Flight FZ1073)
A FlyDubai co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam Al-Hammami, allegedly attacked the captain with an ax and tried to seize control of a Tel Aviv-bound flight carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia on September 30 (Arab News, October 3). Al-Hammami had reportedly been barred from flying for Oman's airline over extremism concerns, and questions remain over whether Israeli authorities' advance receipt of the crew list should have flagged him as a threat.
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## FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 Hijacking Attempt
**Type:** Case
**Status:** Under investigation; co-pilot accused of attacking captain with an ax and attempting to seize controls, prompting an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia (Arab News, October 3).
**Key Facts:**
- The flight carried 174 people, most of them Israelis, and was bound for Tel Aviv (Arab News, October 3).
- The aircraft lost more than half its altitude during the cockpit altercation before crew and passengers regained control (Arab News, October 3).
- The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, an Omani national, according to three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf and a Western diplomat (Arab News, October 3).
- Al-Hammami had reportedly been barred from flying for Oman's national airline over concerns about extremist views, according to officials (Arab News, October 3).
- Israeli media reported that Israeli authorities had received the flight's crew list before departure; Israel's Tax Authority confirmed receiving passenger and crew lists, but the Transportation Ministry declined to say whether the information was reviewed in advance (Arab News, October 3).
- The motive for the attack remains under investigation (Arab News, October 3).
- Passengers who landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia were reportedly met with hospitality by local residents despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel (Arab News opinion, October 3).
**Timeline:**
- September 30: Emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia following cockpit altercation (Arab News, October 3).
- October 3: Reports emerge that Israeli authorities had received the crew list pre-departure; Tax Authority confirms receipt but Transportation Ministry declines comment on advance review (Arab News).
- October 3: Co-pilot identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, an Omani national previously flagged over extremism concerns by his national airline (Arab News).
**Connections:** Aviation security screening protocols; Israeli-UAE/Gulf flight security coordination; Saudi-Israel relations (absent formal diplomatic ties); Oman national airline vetting practices.
**Section Relevance:** World news, aviation/security, Middle East geopolitics, opinion/commentary on regional relations.