Omani Co-Pilot Accused in FlyDubai Attack Identified, Previously Grounded Over Extremist Concerns
The 29-year-old was reportedly barred from flying with his national airline due to suspected extremist views.
The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain on a flight bound for Tel Aviv has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national. According to a Middle Eastern source, al-Hammami was grounded by Oman Air in 2024 due to concerns over extremist views, and authorities believe he moved to Dubai later that year.
The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the incident on FlyDubai Flight 1073. Investigators believe al-Hammami used the cockpit's crash axe to attack Captain Smit Machchhar, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to descend before passengers intervened. The source added that al-Hammami spent significant time outside Oman, including periods in Syria with his mother.
It is reported that FlyDubai did not consult Oman Air regarding al-Hammami's hiring. A Gulf diplomat told The Associated Press that investigators are working to determine if al-Hammami acted alone or had ties to extremist groups.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as an act of terrorism, suggesting the attacker had undergone "Islamic radicalization" and intended to crash the plane. The captain, Smit Machchhar, is Indian.