English
A Flydubai co-pilot who attacked his captain during a flight to Israel most likely acted alone, early findings suggest. Multiple U.S. officials briefed on the investigation and a former Israeli security official told NBC News that the attacker showed no clear links to a foreign government or organized group.
However, investigators cautioned that the probe remains at an early stage. Authorities have not yet ruled out all possibilities.
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Early Signs Point to Lone Wolf Attack
Shalom Ben Hanan, a former official with Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, described the current assessment directly. “The assessment is that he operated alone,” he said. “Right now, it looks like a case of ‘lone wolf’ terrorism inspired by content found online.”
Ben Hanan also stressed the need for caution. “We still need to wait for the final investigation results to determine whether an organization or a state is behind it,” he added.
NBC News identified the suspect as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen. That identification came from multiple sources across three agencies briefed on the investigation, as well as a diplomat in the Middle East. Authorities have not officially released his identity.
What Happened on the Flight
Emirati authorities, who lead the investigation, confirmed on Saturday that the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash ax. He then attempted to seize control of the aircraft’s flight controls in what officials described as a terrorist attack.
The flight carried 174 passengers, most of them Israeli, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Crew members and passengers entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker before a crash could occur, according to eyewitnesses and Israeli officials.
The flight captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, spoke from a hospital in Abu Dhabi on Friday. He said he had suffered severe injuries and could sense the aircraft descending before he managed to open the cockpit door. That allowed passengers and crew to step in and overpower the attacker.
“I was acting for my own life, but at the same time, I knew I couldn’t let all of them die,” Machchhar said during a video call released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Political Reactions and Iranian Involvement Questioned
The attack drew immediate political attention at the highest levels. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that investigators were examining whether someone had sent the attacker. President Donald Trump also raised the possibility of Iranian involvement on Thursday, threatening renewed strikes against Iran if it played a role.
However, a senior U.S. official previously told NBC News that no evidence pointed to Iranian direction or involvement in the attack. That assessment aligns with the broader preliminary finding that the co-pilot acted independently.
Meanwhile, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said on Saturday that investigators were working to establish the incident’s “full circumstances, motives, and any links.” The investigation into the Flydubai attack continues, and officials expect further findings as the inquiry progresses.
