Because a friend was among the crew, then returned to the route and attacked the captain on September 30 aboard Flight 1073, investigators now believe he backed out in July.
Two months before Flydubai Flight FZ1073 became the scene of a cockpit attack, co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami had allegedly already chosen the same Israel-bound route for an earlier attempt.
Because the aircraft was a US-designed and built Boeing 737 MAX, the US National Transportation Safety Board could take part. Because the jet was registered there and Flydubai is based in Dubai, the UAE is also entitled to participate. Israel has offered to join the Saudi investigation and had not received an invitation as of October 7, according to the head of Israel’s Aircraft Safety Investigation Authority.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman Air had barred him from flying over concerns about extremist ideology. It also reported that Royal Air Maroc later rejected him for a job. A criminal investigation is under way in the UAE into the planning, motive and circumstances surrounding the attempted takeover. Reports based on the investigation say al-Hammami intended to use an Israel-bound passenger aircraft as a weapon. Ben Gurion Airport has been identified in multiple reports as one of the targets he considered. Reports have also referred to another target in the Tel Aviv area. The investigation has also moved into al-Hammami’s employment record. He subsequently joined Flydubai. The airline has also sought permission to restart its Tel Aviv service. Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev has so far declined that request. Flydubai suspended Tel Aviv operations after the attack.
Flight FZ1073 left Dubai for Tel Aviv on September 30 with 172 passengers and crew on board, according to Flydubai. During the journey, al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe and tried to take control of the Boeing 737 MAX.
Saudi Arabia has since been told that the aircraft was in Saudi airspace when the attack occurred. The UAE prosecutor general has described the episode as a “terrorist attack”. Hebrew media reports cited by The Week said he told investigators that he had gathered information during an earlier visit and planned to act in July before abandoning the attempt. Flydubai has told Israeli authorities that its internal investigation is nearing completion and that several employees have been dismissed. Chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said, “At the request of the authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice.”
Investigators are also examining reports that al-Hammami used earlier trips to study the Tel Aviv route and Ben Gurion Airport.
