On the FlyDubai Incident: Terrorism or False Flag?

Ibrahim Safi – The Public Trust

On September 30, 2026, flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. It was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with 172 people onboard [1]. During the flight, tracking equipment recorded rapid changes in altitude and flight path, supported by ADS-B (automatic data surveillance-broadcast) data [2]. Eventually, an emergency landing occurred in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, as a result of abnormal behavior by the aircraft [2], with injured crew members, notably the two pilots. This situation was called a terrorist attack by Israel Katz [3], the Israeli minister of defense, as well as by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who alleged this attack was of Iranian origin [4]. So, according to official data as well as witness accounts, what exactly occurred on FlyDubai 1037 that resulted in such an abrupt landing and accusations of terrorism? [4].

According to ADS-B observations, around two and a half hours after departing, the plane underwent a sharp descent followed by a sharp climb and another sharp descent [2]. Around that same time, the transponder began broadcasting code 7700 [2], indicating an emergency. Subsequently, the aircraft stabilized around 15,000 feet [2], slightly below half of the cruising altitude. At this time, the aircraft was redirected towards Tabuk and landed a further hour and a half after the emergency signal [2]. 

According to an official statement from FlyDubai, the reason behind the abnormal movements was a physical altercation at the flight deck between the two pilots [5], specifically with the co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, assaulting the pilot, Smit Machchhar [5]. This was allegedly performed with an emergency crash axe, according to the UAE Attorney General, resulting in several wounds to Captain Machchhar [5]. This was followed by Al-Hammami attempting to wrest control of the aircraft, resulting in a 16,000 feet drop in a little over 30 seconds [2]. What happened next is conflicted, but by some means the cockpit door was opened, resulting in the deck being vulnerable [6]. Passengers then subsequently entered the cockpit and confronted the co-pilot,  physically subduing and restraining him with earphone cables [7]. Then, a passenger stabilized the aircraft, a skill he attributes to watching an aviation television program, though his precise actions or participation are only evidenced by his testimony and not the flight recorder data [8]. Then, two additional off-duty pilots, who were on the plane, subsequently took control and performed the emergency landing at Tabuk. 

Upon further analysis, this story seems to have two glaring areas that seem to prompt questions. Firstly is the manner in which the cockpit door was opened; according to Captain Machchhar’s testimony, he opened the door with his foot after being attacked by Al-Hammami [9]. However, there are certain doubts raised with this testimony. It is estimated, according to the Boeing 737 maintenance manual, that for this model of aircraft the cockpit door requires a minimum force of 44.5N (newtons) to open [10], comparable to lifting a 10-pound dumbbell. In normal circumstances, this is not an issue and is intentionally easy to access, but for an incapacitated man who has endured multiple head injuries that caused skull fractures, as well as active bleeding [11], exerting that force in such a precise manner, with one’s foot nonetheless, remains an extraordinary feat. Other testimonies, notably from Yaniv Hayoun, a passenger on the plane, stated that he himself opened the door from the outside [12]. This serves to be an even more extraordinary feat as the doors are designed to have a clearance tolerance (minimum force it should be able to tolerate before mechanical failure) of roughly 1113N [10], roughly equivalent to trying to lift a household refrigerator, hence requiring immense strength. If the engineering reports are to be trusted, the person who had the best ability to open the cabin door was Al-Hammami himself. So, the very nature of the cockpit door being opened is questionable until further evidence is brought forward.

Secondly, the nature of the perpetrator, Hamam al-Hammami, is to be called into question. Al-Hammami is an Omani citizen [13], and this seems to be the most glaring question mark in this entire story, as it is prohibited for a pilot, who is a citizen of a country that does not have cordial relations with Israel, to be flying a plane into Israel. If that rule is to be abided by, an Omani pilot should not have been permitted to fly the plane in the first place [14]. Furthermore, Ben Gurion Airport is notorious for being one of the most security-heavy airports in its thoroughness of searching and screening [15]. How then did Al-Hammami, a citizen of a country that does not recognize the state of Israel, pass the Israeli screening and was permitted to fly a plane bound to land in Tel Aviv? There is another glaring fact, which is Al-Hammami’s background. He enrolled in a Mechanical Engineering degree program in Melbourne but never completed it; he underwent brief flight training in New Zealand and then completed a distance-learning aviation management degree in the UK. He was a co-pilot trainee under Oman Air around 2024 and then was subsequently suspended from flying [13]. He completed a three-month theoretical pre-employment training for Royal Air Maroc but was not hired. Finally, in 2026, he was hired by FlyDubai, but crucially there is no evidence for Al-Hammami holding any sort of pilot license, something that would typically bar anyone from flying a private plane, much less a commercial one [13]. Thus, many questions are to be asked about Al-Hammami, and until we learn more about him, the case will remain a mystery.

It is crucial to know too that upcoming soon on October 27 are the elections for Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing declining popularity from both the conservative and liberal sections of society and has seen his power wane, ceding to more radical voices in his government [16,17]. He also faces seven domestic criminal charges that are currently suspended due to his tenure [17]. Given Israel’s history with false flag attacks utilized towards furthering their domestic and geopolitical goals, such as the Lavon affair, the 1950 Baghdad bombings, and Mossad-Jundullah operations, could it henceforth be assumed that this incident too, which is currently being framed as an attempted terror attack, was indeed an attempted false flag, especially as the accusation is being actively lobbed against Iran, justifying further engagement and conflict with them? Until further information is uncovered, we can only speculate and connect the dots on what the real play is with this incident and how it connects to the broader geopolitical reality of the Middle East. 

Sources

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