Flydubai co-pilot used crash ax to hack at pilot in attempted
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
The co-pilot of a flydubai flight grabbed the crash ax and started hacking at the captain mid-flight. That is not a scene from a thriller. That is what UAE prosecutors say happened on a plane heading to Israel.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
The deranged flydubai co-pilot used a crash ax to stab the pilot and try to take control of the cockpit in an attempted “terrorist attack,” the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general revealed. Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked pilot Smit Machchhar with the emergency crash ax, which is typically stored in the cockpit, Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said.
The United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation, also deemed the incident an attempted terrorist attack. The 29-year-old Omani national allegedly tried to hijack the Sept. 30 Israel-bound flight.
The jet plunged 18,000 feet before heroic passengers subdued al-Hammami and took control of the plane. Al-Hammami was previously banned from flying by Oman over fears he had adopted extremist views.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
The co-pilot of a flydubai flight grabbed the crash ax and started hacking at the captain mid-flight. That is not a scene from a thriller. That is what UAE prosecutors say happened on a plane heading to Israel. A crash ax is meant for breaking through fuselage panels after an emergency landing, not for attacking the man in the right-hand seat. Yet that is exactly what the cockpit contained: a crew member who turned on his own flight.
Details are still thin, but the story is already a nightmare. Hamam al-Hammami, the accused co-pilot, reportedly tried to hijack the plane before being subdued by the captain. The aircraft landed safely in Dubai. That outcome is something to be grateful for, but the close call deserves a harder look. The threat came from inside the cockpit door, which is supposed to be the one place on an airplane that is truly locked down. For years, security has focused on keeping strangers out. We just learned again that the people already inside can be the danger.
This matters far beyond one airline. Flights to Israel are among the most heavily scrutinized operations in the aviation world. If a rogue co-pilot can get an ax in the cockpit on that route, then every security assumption needs a fresh review. A determined insider with a weapon is almost impossible to stop once the hatch is closed. The captain deserves real credit for fighting back and landing that plane. The airline and the UAE authorities deserve credit for charging the man quickly.
But here is the thing. We keep hearing about "layered security" and "risk assessment." What we rarely hear is what happens when the layer itself flips. Vetting is not a one-time checkbox. Background checks and mental health monitoring should not end on the day a pilot signs their contract. If a co-pilot can snap mid-route, the system needs to catch the signs before it reaches the point of a crash ax. We hope flydubai is asking how far this goes, and we hope every other airline is doing the same. The pilots who fly our allies and our interests deserve better than a false sense of security.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.