Omani co-pilot accused of FlyDubai plane attack was banned from flying

Please enable JavaScript for the best SAMAA TV experience.

Note: For enhanced search features, please enable JavaScript.

Hamam al-Hammami was suspended from flying over concerns about extremist views

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound flight and attempting to crash the aircraft had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views, according to people familiar with the investigation.

The suspected attacker was identified by multiple sources as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Investigators are now examining how he was subsequently allowed to work as a co-pilot for FlyDubai and operate a sensitive route between the UAE and Israel.

Sources said al-Hammami had been barred from flying by Oman after concerns arose over his alleged adoption of extremist or radical ideological views.

ABC News reported, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials, that al-Hammami was working as a co-pilot trainee for Oman Air in 2024 when he was found in possession of extremist material. He was subsequently allowed to continue working for the airline in an administrative role, according to the sources.

It remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns about al-Hammami with other countries or airlines, or how extensively he was vetted before being hired by FlyDubai. Investigators are treating the question of how he eventually ended up in the cockpit as a central part of the inquiry.

The Boeing 737 was carrying 174 passengers, most of them Israelis, when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet, or about 4,267 metres, in less than 30 seconds.

According to the UAE attorney general, al-Hammami attempted to carry out a terrorist act and attacked the captain with a crash axe before trying to seize control of the aircraft.

Captain Machchhar, who was covered in blood, managed to open the cockpit door. Israeli passengers then entered the cockpit, overpowered the co-pilot and restrained him, while other pilots travelling on the aircraft helped stabilise the plane.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia. The Israeli passengers were later flown home on a special repatriation flight, while the captain and suspected attacker were returned to the UAE.

A Gulf diplomat said investigators were trying to determine whether al-Hammami acted alone or had links to extremist groups.

The UAE attorney general said the investigation was continuing to establish the circumstances, motives and any possible connections related to the incident. Authorities are also examining physical and digital evidence, with final findings expected after the necessary procedures are completed.

Sources told ABC News that al-Hammami was cooperating with investigators and had indicated that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel. The reported intent remains part of the ongoing investigation.

Al-Hammami reportedly worked at Oman Air for about seven years before leaving in February 2025. A since-deleted LinkedIn profile, which CNN said was confirmed by a source familiar with the matter, showed subsequent employment with Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc from June 2025 to January 2026.

The same report said he studied aviation management remotely at Buckinghamshire New University in England and graduated in 2023.

His social media accounts have also come under scrutiny. His Instagram account was active until the day of the flight before being deleted, while reports said posts shared after the attack included footage of Israeli aircraft and images associated with extremist figures.

FlyDubai said a full official investigation was underway and that the airline was supporting the authorities.

The airline also temporarily suspended its operations to Tel Aviv until further notice at the request of authorities. Officials from the Emirati airline had reportedly expressed a desire to resume flights, but Israeli authorities had cancelled services until further notice.

UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash described the incident as a “dangerous terrorist act” in a post on X. Meanwhile, there was no immediate public response from Oman’s government or Oman Air to repeated questions about the incident.

Houthis later report Saudi strikes on Yemeni capital Sanaa, other parts of Yemen

Ballistic missiles, drones intercepted as debris causes limited damage in Khamis Mushait