The flydubai co-pilot who attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in an apparent bid to crash the Israel-bound flight likely acted alone, media reports said on Sunday (October 4, 2026).
The United Arab Emirates and Israel are both investigating the incident. The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing, is also conducting investigations.
Also, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said that it is investigating al-Hammami’s links to the country.
Also, CBS News reported that the alleged attempted hijacking was likely a lone-wolf attack, and the investigation is still in full swing, and all avenues are still being explored, according to an early investigation by Israel. Australian security agencies have launched an investigation after it emerged that al-Hammami spent about two years in the country as a student. The flight, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet.
The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said on Saturday that its probe had revealed the co-pilot attempted to carry out a “terrorist act”.
