By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-07 22:10:57 | Updated at 2026-10-09 11:31:17
1 day ago
FlyDubai has been hacked just days after a failed hijack attempt.
Oman national Hammam Al-Hammami, 29, attempted to carry out a "terrorist" attack during a flight on September 30, prosecutors said.
He is said to have struck the pilot with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
The horrifying ordeal caused waves of terror across the world, leaving the airline reeling from what could have been a global tragedy.
Now, though, they appear to have been hacked, with the group threatening to post confidential information about their 2,862 FlyDubai employees online.
Russian-linked Everest ransomware group has placed the UAE carrier on its dark web extortion site, threatening to release approximately 4.36GB of stolen data.
The cybercriminal outfit has given the airline six days to enter negotiations, according to Cybernews.
The gang claims to have obtained sensitive material spanning employee records, pilot training documentation, and proprietary Boeing software code.
FlyDubai have been reportedly hacked just days after a failed hijack attempt
No screenshots or data samples have yet been published to substantiate the claims, though the group did provide a detailed breakdown of the information it says it holds.
Researchers warned that a confirmed leak could carry significant consequences, with one researcher saying: "Such information could be useful for competitors. The company may face reputational damage and legal risks."
The threat of secondary attacks is equally concerning: "With such information at hand, threat actors might attempt to phish FlyDubai employees, which may lead to a breach affecting other data, including customer data."
It caps off what has been a terrible week for the airline.
Last Wednesday, Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people on board, diverted over Jordanian airspace towards Saudi Arabia after suddenly plunging over 14,000ft in less than 30 seconds.
Co-pilot Al-Hammami, who studied aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University, is said to have struck the pilot with a crash axe, leaving him to die on the floor.
Despite his life-threatening wounds, captain Smit Machchhar was able to crawl and unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to charge in.
"I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside," Capt Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call.
"Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]."
They managed to tie up and stop the alleged attacker before stabilising and landing the jet.
Capt Machchhar added: "I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die."
Distressing footage depicts the captain bloodied and clutching his chest, as passengers applied pressure to the wound.
All passengers, including Al-Hammami, who is now in custody in Saudi Arabia, survived the incident.
