Overview
- On September 30 a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv suffered a cockpit attack when the co‑pilot allegedly struck the captain with an axe and passengers and off‑duty pilots restrained the assailant.
- Authorities identified the detained suspect as Omani national Hamam al‑Hammami who, according to media reports and interrogation excerpts, told investigators he planned to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport.
- The UAE, Saudi and Israeli authorities are cooperating in an active terrorism probe that includes questioning the suspect, reviewing his travel and employment history and collecting forensic evidence.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu ordered a review of foreign civilian flights to Israel and officials are examining how the accused passed airline checks after prior safety flags at his former employer.
- The episode has prompted political fallout abroad, including sharp criticism in Germany over a senior official’s social‑media comments, and could lead to tighter vetting of crew on flights to Israel.