Flydubai

FlyDubai co-pilot accused of murder-suicide mission trained to fly in UK

Hamam al-Hammami, 29, trained with L3 Airline Academy, a company that's now part of Acron Aviation, between 2018 and 2019 and received lessons at one or more centers in England

Flydubai co-pilot planned crash before airline job, say Israeli officials

A third source briefed on the UAE probe said the co-pilot, an Omani national, had planned to crash last Wednesday's flight into Ben-Gurion airport near ‌Tel Aviv

FlyDubai co-pilot failed to complete university studies in Australia

Hamam al-Hammami, the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot who allegedly attacked his captain mid-flight, had been enrolled at RMIT University in Melbourne but failed to finish an engineering qualification

Multiple nations probe FlyDubai co-pilot accused of cockpit attack: Reports

Authorities in Australia and Israel are investigating the Omani co-pilot's links to Australia and how he came to be part of the crew of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, as the UAE-led probe examines his motives and connections, according to media reports. The Australian Federal Police said a counterterrorism team was investigating the man's links to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Sunday. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprising the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, is conducting the Australian investigation, the Australian Federal Police told ABC and the BBC. Sources familiar with the case told Australian media that the co-pilot was issued a student visa in 2014 and studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017 before leaving the country. His visa was cancelled in 2019, the ABC reported, adding that the cancellation was not on character grounds but because he was no

Who are mystery men who stepped in to keep FlyDubai plane from crashing?

Who are the mystery pilots who stepped in to stabilize the FlyDubai flight as it hurtled toward disaster? As of Saturday, three days after the uniformed crew members rushed to the cockpit to steady the Israel-bound plane carrying 182 people after a sickening plummet, they still haven't been publicly identified. FlyDubai has called them only on-duty crew members traveling on the plane. It's not clear why the airline hasn't said more. One passenger at the front of the plane, though, described the men's actions in an interview with The Associated Press, giving one of the most detailed accounts of the yet-unsung heroes. "This is one of the miracles," said Daniel Schlichter, who was seated in the second row. "That not in every flight they bring two extra pilots. In this case, they brought them because they should have brought the plane back from Tel Aviv to Dubai, and this is the only reason they were there." The practice is called deadheading. The two men responded after screaming ...

Nepal-bound flydubai flight diverted to Lucknow due to bad weather

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Nepal's Pokhara was diverted to Lucknow on Saturday evening due to adverse weather at the destination airport, officials said. Flight FZ 1165, operating from Dubai International Airport to Pokhara, was diverted to Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, where it landed safely at 6.53 pm, they said. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft bearing registration A6-FMU. After weather conditions at the Pokhara airport improved, the aircraft departed from Lucknow at 8.08 pm, officials said. The diversion was solely due to bad weather and was not prompted by any technical problem or emergency. The aircraft made a normal landing at Lucknow airport, they said.

Smit Machchhar 'recovering well' after flydubai flight attack: UAE Embassy

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar is "recovering well" and remains under "excellent medical care" after being seriously injured in an attack by his co-pilot during a flight to Israel, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Saturday. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while it was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. "Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well. We are in touch with his family & local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery," the embassy said in a post on X. The embassy also thanked the UAE government for providing medical care to Machchhar and said it joined well-wishers in praying for his recovery. The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said the co-pilot attempted to carry out a "terrorist act". UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot used a crash axe to attack Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft, ...

UAE says FlyDubai co-pilot attacked captain with cockpit's crash axe

The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday that the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight that nearly crashed with 182 people on board attacked the captain with the cockpit's crash axe in a "terrorist attack." The UAE statement cited the attorney general as saying the co-pilot also tried to take control of the plane during Wednesday's attack on the Israel-bound flight. Passengers and crew intervened to subdue the co-pilot and stabilise the plane.

FlyDubai co-pilot who attacked Capt Machchhar, identified as Hamam Alhamami

Al Arabiya English and CNN reported that the Omani co-pilot had faced concerns over alleged radical views before joining Flydubai and is now facing a terrorism investigation in the UAE

FlyDubai incident: Co-pilot was barred by Oman over alleged extremist views

The FlyDubai co-pilot who officials said nearly crashed a Tel Aviv-bound flight with 182 people aboard was barred from flying by his native Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views, a person familiar with the matter said Saturday. The co-pilot was subsequently hired by the United Arab Emirates-based airline, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. It was not immediately clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired in the Emirates. Oman's move to bar the co-pilot from flying was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The attack left the region's travel industry in crisis, raising questions about aviation security and further unsettling a Middle East already shaken by the U.S.-Iran war. A regional investigation is underway. The United Arab Emirates has canceled all flights to Israel, complicating travel for hundreds of passengers who fly between the countries on a typical day. Israel and the UAE agreed on ...

I was determined not to let others die, Captain Smit tells PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Captain Smit Machchaar, who foiled an attempt by his co-pilot to allegedly crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight, and applauded his bravery. During the telephonic conversation, Machchaar gave details of his experience and what gave him courage during the incident, government sources said. Modi applauded the pilot's bravery and wished him a quick recovery, the sources said. The prime minister on Thursday had said in the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, Machchhar showed immense courage and unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. Modi said Machchhar is a "HERO" and his valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the prime minister had also said that the pilot of the flydubai flight showed great patience, acumen and bravery. "And like Israeli PM (Benjamin Netanyahu) today said that this India

FlyDubai cockpit attack puts aviation security under fresh scrutiny

Israel has some of the world's most stringent air travel security measures. The United Arab Emirates proudly adheres to international aviation safety standards. Yet those safeguards failed to prevent a flight between the countries from taking a dangerous plunge during an alleged attack in the cockpit. The copilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after taking off from Dubai, UAE, with 174 people flying to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday. The airplane made a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and the incident is under investigation by Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities, with the United States and Oman assisting efforts to determine a motive. "Until this event, the possibility of a threat originating from a pilot or crew member was not considered a likely scenario. Security efforts have traditionally focused much more heavily on passengers and their luggage," said Eyal Hulata, Israel's former ...

FlyDubai pilot Smit Machchhar's path from nervous pilot to cockpit 'hero'

Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his copilot, opened the cockpit door after fighting back, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker and avert a crash

Deeply concerned: UN chief Guterres strongly condemns flydubai attack

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over an incident aboard a flydubai flight in which an Indian pilot sustained serious injuries while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash the aircraft. The Dubai to Tel Aviv flight, carrying 174 people, including 27 children, made an emergency landing at Tabuk in northwest Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following an altercation in the cockpit. The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, stabbed Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Guterres is deeply concerned by the serious incident involving a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight and is relieved that tragedy was averted, a statement issued by the Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday. Guterres strongly condemns any act that places at risk civilian lives and the safety of civil aviation, the statement said, adding that the UN chief is grateful to al

Iran will be hit 'very hard' if behind Israel flight crash attempt: Trump

President Donald Trump said Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound plane. The president was asked Thursday by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran. He said, "We're working on it right now." "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now," Trump said. He did not offer details. Asked if the US would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said, "Oh they'll be hit, very hard, don't worry." "You just ask them," he added. "They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard.

flydubai pilot “a hero”: Watch Trump hail Indian pilot Smit Machchhar

US President Donald Trump hailed Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar as a “hero” after an alleged cockpit attack during a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight. Watch Trump’s remarks on the incident.

Prevented another 9/11-like attack: PM Modi hails Capt Smit Machchhar

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot during a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; passengers and crew later helped overpower the attacker and land the aircraft safely

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar stable after Flydubai flight cockpit attack

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar had been admitted to a hospital in Tabuk city and currently is in stable condition

Who is Smit Machchhar, Indian pilot hailed as hero after flydubai attack?

Smit Machchhar was the captain of flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when a violent confrontation broke out inside the cockpit

PM Modi hails pilot Smit Machchhar as 'hero' after Flydubai incident

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a "hero" for fighting off his co-pilot, who allegedly attempted to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flydubai flight and said the country is proud of his valour as he helped save hundreds of lives and averted a great tragedy. Modi said in the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, Captain Machchhar showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. "Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO," Modi said in a post on X. "His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. India is proud of Captain Machchhar. "The prime minister said he was praying for the pilot's speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health," he added.