Israeli Pilot Explains Flydubai’s ‘Crazy’ Landing, Prevention Steps

Eliran Almog, a former Israeli helicopter pilot who now leads an aviation cybersecurity company, said it was “crazy” that FlyDubai Flight 1073 reached the ground safely after a violent attack in the air.

“You can’t imagine what it is like to be in that situation. You see the videos, you hear children screaming, and passengers may not even understand what is happening,” the former Israeli Air Force pilot told News Media.

The aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds after its Omani co-pilot, identified as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly stabbed the pilot, Capt. Smit Machchhar, during the flight.

“The forces acting on the aircraft were enormous, and you essentially believe you are going to die,” Almog said. He added that it was remarkable the plane stayed intact and managed to land despite the damage to its tail.

Although Machchhar suffered serious injuries, officials said he managed to press a button that opened the cockpit door. Israeli passengers then entered the flight deck and restrained al-Hammami. A second FlyDubai crew that was aboard the aircraft took control of the situation and completed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

“As a pilot, I’m not sure I could have landed that aircraft under those circumstances,” Almog said. He noted that every commercial plane has different controls, landing procedures and operating limits.

Almog, who advises airlines and related businesses on cybersecurity, said the incident underscored the need for rigorous pilot screening that examines both psychological stability and possible political risks.

“We place significant emphasis on a pilot’s personal characteristics. Technical ability and cognitive skills matter, but we also want to know that the pilot is balanced and capable of remaining resilient in extreme circumstances,” he said.

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“Aviation is critical infrastructure, so we need to rethink how pilots are evaluated—not only when they are hired, but throughout their careers. Even experienced pilots need to be assessed with tools that can identify family problems, psychological distress or the development of extreme beliefs that might create a threat. The industry must adopt these practices, and governments and regulators need to act,” he continued.

Several countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, are investigating al-Hammami and the FlyDubai episode. In a Thursday interview with Fox & Friends, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had been subjected to “Islamist radical indoctrination.”

President Donald Trump, for his part, suggested that the pilot may have been trained or influenced by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.

Almog said broader geopolitical tensions, including the wars continuing across the Middle East, have become one of the aviation industry’s leading security concerns.

“If you ask airlines today about the risks they are most focused on, geopolitical threats are at the top of the list,” he said. “We monitor GNSS and GPS jamming and spoofing, and the activity maps make it possible to see where the conflicts are taking place.”

He also stressed that airlines cannot limit security screening and monitoring to pilots.

“Pilots are not the only people capable of bringing down an aircraft. More than 80% of cybersecurity threats come from insiders, many of whom may not even recognize that their actions create a risk,” Almog said. “That includes cabin crew and maintenance workers. A plane can be endangered by an incorrect fuel balance or faulty maintenance settings. Aviation depends on an intricate supply chain, and psychological screening and background checks should extend to everyone involved in flight operations—not just pilots.”

Almog also commended the passengers’ determination and described Capt. Machchhar’s actions as heroic.

“In the end, a series of circumstances prevented a catastrophe,” he said. “It required extraordinary personal resilience, the bravery of the off-duty Indian pilot who opened the cockpit door, and the presence of two additional FlyDubai pilots who were able to bring the aircraft down safely.”

“As a pilot, I can tell you that isn’t easy. Landing an unfamiliar commercial aircraft type under extreme stress requires specialized training, which is why rigorous screening and continuous support for flight crews are so vital,” he added.