flydubai co-pilot was barred from flying in Oman over extremist concerns

New Delhi/Washington: The flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to sabotage a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar had reportedly been barred from flying in Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views, according to media reports.

The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Al Hamami, an Omani citizen born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Reports said he spent much of his time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideas before travelling to the UAE.

Al Hamami was working as a co-pilot trainee with Oman Air in 2024 when he was allegedly found in possession of extremist material. He was reportedly allowed to continue working with the airline in an administrative role but was barred from flying after being identified as a security risk.

Despite the reported restriction in Oman, he was later hired by flydubai, enabling him to operate flights on the sensitive route between the UAE and Israel. Questions have been raised over how he was cleared to fly as investigations into the incident continue.

The UAE has ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident and determine whether it was linked to terrorist activity, prior planning or direction. Reports have also suggested that Al Hamami intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, though investigators are still examining his motive and background.

According to CNN, Al Hamami had worked for flydubai for only about eight months. A now-deleted LinkedIn profile in his name reportedly said he had worked with Oman Air for seven years and left in February 2025. He then joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025, left in January this year and subsequently joined flydubai.

The deleted profile reportedly carried two posts made within about nine hours of the incident, both described as terror-related. One post allegedly contained clips filmed inside the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max, with the person recording zooming in on an aircraft belonging to Israeli airline El Al.

The video reportedly ended with an image of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and a photograph of Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a 2009 suicide bombing that killed nine people, including US personnel.

Another post reportedly featured an AI-generated image of Islam’s three holiest sites in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. CNN reported that a poem in the background referred to rejecting humiliation, not fearing death and defending one’s dignity.

A separate CNN report said Al Hamami’s now-deleted X account portrayed him as “deeply religious and misogynistic”. Other reports cited a former colleague describing him as a religious extremist, although investigations into his motives and background are ongoing.

The flydubai flight was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly tried to sabotage the aircraft and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar as he attempted to stop him.

The Boeing 737, cruising at about 34,000 feet, began descending at roughly 23,000 feet per minute before reaching about 15,600 feet. Machchhar resisted the co-pilot and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower him. The flight made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia with the help of two other pilots on board.

Meanwhile, UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of an investigation team to probe the incident, including any possible connection to terrorist activity or intent.

The team, comprising specialised members of the Public Prosecution, will examine the circumstances and causes of the incident, according to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UAE also appreciated Saudi authorities for their cooperation and handling of the incident.

(Inputs from IANS)