A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft descended 16,000 feet in approximately 30 seconds after a co-pilot reportedly attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe on Wednesday, September 30. The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general described the event as a "terrorist attack" on Saturday, October 3. The aircraft, which was en route from Dubai to Israel, was eventually leveled out and landed safely in Saudi Arabia after passengers intervened and a reserve crew took control.
The incident began when the co-pilot, identified by sources as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked the pilot during the flight. According to aviation instructor Alberto Paduanelli, who recreated the event in a flight simulator, the aircraft's autopilot disconnected before the plunge, causing the jet to accelerate rapidly. Investigation sources noted that al-Hammami had previously studied at a university in Melbourne and completed a distance-learning course in aviation management in Britain, though he had been rejected for employment at Royal Air Maroc following a 2025 training program.
During the descent, the aircraft fell at a rate described by Paduanelli as similar to a "vertical roller coaster," which he said would subject those on board to negative g-forces. The captain was injured in the attack, but no other injuries were reported. U.S. President Donald Trump praised the aircraft's structural integrity on Truth Social, stating the plane withstood strains beyond its design expectations. Boeing has not commented on the incident, and flydubai stated the circumstances remain under investigation.
The incident directly affected the passengers and crew aboard Flight FZ1073, who experienced a rapid 16,000-foot loss in altitude within 30 seconds. For those on board, such a descent translates to intense physical strain; aviation experts note that unbuckled individuals would have felt their bodies lift from their seats due to negative g-forces. The safe landing was facilitated by the presence of a reserve pilot crew and passenger intervention.
The event involves multiple international jurisdictions, including the UAE, Oman, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. The Omani government has not yet issued a statement, while the Australian Federal Police are investigating al-Hammami’s links to Australia, where he was a student. The use of an emergency crash axe in the cockpit raises questions for aviation security regulators regarding internal threats and cockpit access protocols. While the Boeing 737 MAX 8 airframe remained intact despite the high-speed dive, such maneuvers place extreme aerodynamic loads on commercial aircraft that are not typically subjected to these forces during standard operations.
UAE authorities are continuing their investigation into the attack. While the co-pilot has been identified by sources, the UAE government has not yet officially confirmed his identity or announced specific charges. Australian authorities are expected to provide further details on the co-pilot's history in Melbourne as their investigation progresses. Flydubai has not provided a timeline for when its internal probe will be completed. Additional reports from the UAE prosecutor general regarding the legal status of the suspect are pending.