Two days after a serious incident on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, new reports have raised questions about the background of the Omani co-pilot involved in the mid-air emergency. Authorities have not officially confirmed his identity or publicly established a motive for the attack.
Saudi-based Al Arabiya, citing sources, identified the co-pilot as Hamam Al-Hammami. However, the United Arab Emirates has not officially confirmed the name, and the details reported about his background have not been independently verified by Hindustan Times.
According to reports cited by ABC News and The Wall Street Journal, Al-Hammami had previously been considered a security risk in Oman and was reportedly barred from flying there after concerns about allegedly radical or extremist views. It remains unclear what specific evidence led to the reported restriction.
The reports also claim that the co-pilot spent considerable time outside Oman, including in Syria. Sources cited by international media have suggested that he may have been exposed to extremist ideas during his time there. These claims remain part of an ongoing investigation and have not been independently established.
Al-Hammami reportedly studied aviation management in England. CNN reported that his LinkedIn profile stated he had studied at Buckinghamshire New University. A university source reportedly confirmed that a person by the same name completed a three-year distance-learning programme and graduated with a degree in aviation management in 2023.
Questions have also emerged over his social media activity. According to CNN, his LinkedIn account had two posts uploaded shortly after the incident. One reportedly contained images of former al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who was responsible for a 2009 suicide bombing that killed nine people, including seven US intelligence personnel. The significance of the posts has not been officially established.
Despite the reported restrictions in Oman, the co-pilot later joined Flydubai, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously. It is not yet clear what background checks were conducted before he was hired.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the incident as involving “Islamist radicalization”, but he has not publicly provided evidence supporting that claim. US President Donald Trump also said early information suggested a possible connection to Tehran, although he did not provide details.
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel with 180 people on board. Around two hours into the flight, while the aircraft was flying over Saudi Arabia at approximately 33,000 to 34,000 feet, the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot.
The aircraft was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. All passengers and crew members survived. The investigation into the attack, the co-pilot's background and the circumstances leading up to the incident is continuing.
Reader Comments 0