Indian Pilot Prevents Co-Pilot's Attempted Crash in Israel
Captain Smit Machchhar thwarted an attack by Omani co-pilot Hamam Alhamami during a Flydubai flight intended for Tel Aviv.
An Indian pilot prevented a planned terrorist attack on September 30 during Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Captain Smit Machchhar resisted an assault by Omani co-pilot Hamam Alhamami, which had triggered a rapid 16,000-foot descent within two minutes. Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to restrain Alhamami before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 180 people on board were safe.
Investigators determined that Alhamami was indoctrinated into al-Qaeda ideology during time spent in Syria and intended to crash the plane in Israel. Alhamami was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, where he is currently under terrorism investigation.
The incident has raised questions regarding airline vetting processes. Oman Air had grounded Alhamami in 2024 for visiting radical Islamic websites, but Flydubai hired him without verifying his previous employment history. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his actions, with Netanyahu stating that an Indian prevented a "9/11-style tragedy."
