Dubai-to-Tel Aviv Flight Hijaacked: Co-Pilot Tries to Crash Boeing into Skyscraper

A routine Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight turned into chaos on September 30 when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and tried to take over the Boeing 737. The co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, had a history of alleged extremist views and was previously removed from flying duties in Oman.

According to investigators, al-Hammami's plan involved crashing the aircraft into a Tel Aviv skyscraper. However, after Machchhar survived the attack, the situation changed, and the co-pilot allegedly tried to shut down both engines by moving the fuel switches from 'Run' to 'Cutoff.'

The Boeing 737 lost around 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds during the chaos, but eventually stabilised after passengers and crew intervened. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.