The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and attempting to take control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had previously been barred from flying in Oman after being identified as a security concern over alleged extremist views, according to reports citing officials familiar with the investigation.
The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Alhammami, an Omani national who was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother, according to The Wall Street Journal and other reports. Investigators are examining his background, alleged extremist links and possible motive following the Sept. 30 incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073.
According to reports, Alhammami spent significant periods outside Oman, including time in Syria, where authorities are said to have become concerned about his alleged exposure to extremist ideology.
Alhammami Was Reportedly Grounded By Oman Air
Alhammami was reportedly working as a co-pilot trainee with Oman Air in 2024 when he was found to be in possession of extremist material.
He was subsequently prevented from flying and was instead permitted to continue working with the airline in an administrative capacity, reports said.
Senior US intelligence and law enforcement officials cited by ABC News also said Alhammami had previously been identified as a security risk and suspended from flying by Oman Air.
Despite the earlier restriction, Alhammami later obtained flying positions with other airlines before joining flydubai.
A now-deleted LinkedIn profile bearing his name reportedly stated that he had spent about seven years at Oman Air and left the company in February 2025. The profile indicated that he subsequently joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025, leaving in January 2026, before joining flydubai.
CNN reported that Alhammami had worked for flydubai for about eight months.
Suspected Social Media Accounts Under Investigation
Investigators are also examining social media accounts allegedly linked to Alhammami.
According to CNN reports, a now-deleted LinkedIn profile associated with his name published two posts within hours of the flydubai incident.
One reportedly contained footage from the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max and showed an aircraft operated by Israeli airline El Al. The video reportedly ended with images of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qaeda leader, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a 2009 suicide bombing in Afghanistan that killed CIA personnel and others.
Another post reportedly featured an AI-generated image depicting Islam’s three holiest sites, Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, alongside a poem referring to rejecting humiliation, confronting death and defending dignity.
CNN also reported that a deleted X account allegedly linked to Alhammami portrayed him as deeply religious and expressed misogynistic views.
The authenticity and ownership of the deleted accounts and the precise significance of the material remain part of the investigation.
Did Co-Pilot Intend To Crash The Plane?
Reports have raised the possibility that Alhammami intended to crash the aircraft in Israel.
However, investigators have not publicly established a definitive motive or confirmed all details surrounding the alleged attack. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel are among the authorities examining the incident.
The UAE has ordered an investigation into whether the episode was connected to terrorist activity. Saudi authorities said their preliminary investigation found that the co-pilot assaulted the captain, injuring both pilots.
Saudi Arabia subsequently handed the suspect over to the UAE as the investigation continued.
What Happened Aboard The Flydubai Flight?
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, including passengers and crew, when the cockpit confrontation occurred on Sept. 30.
The Boeing 737 experienced a dramatic loss of altitude during the incident, plunging roughly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to reports.
Machchhar was stabbed during the confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit area and overpower the co-pilot.
Video recorded inside the aircraft showed passengers attempting to restrain the attacker while Machchhar was seen injured near the cockpit.
Among those who intervened was passenger Yaniv Hayoun, who helped restrain the co-pilot. A dentist on board also provided medical assistance to the injured captain.
Two other pilots travelling on the aircraft later took control of the plane.
The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Machchhar was later transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment.
Captain Machchhar Recounts The Attack
Machchhar later spoke about the incident during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed.
He described fighting for his life after being attacked and said he opened the cockpit door despite his injuries because he did not want other passengers to die.
Co-Pilot Attacked Indian Pilot With Crash Axe: UAE
A Flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, with the UAE Attorney General now describing the incident as a “terrorist attack”, according to reports.
The incident has since triggered renewed scrutiny of aviation security procedures, particularly the vetting of flight crew members and the risks posed by potential insider threats.
The investigation into Alhammami’s background, his alleged extremist associations and the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack remains ongoing.
