Signs of al-Hammami’s radicalization first emerged in 2017 while he was studying in Australia, prosecutors said. He joined Flydubai in January 2026 and met its professional and security hiring requirements, al-Shamsi said, “but none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot.” The suspect told investigators he acted alone, though authorities continue to examine possible accomplices or links.
Al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit’s emergency axe during Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, UAE prosecutors said. The wounded Indian captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. Additional pilots aboard landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai subsequently suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.