Flydubai attack: Omani pilot identified, was flagged as security risk in 2024
A pilot suspected of attacking an Indian flight Captain Smit Machchhar on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, according to CNN. Al-Hammami, an Omani national, was confirmed as the suspect by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi state media. He had been flagged as a security risk at Oman Air in 2024, leading to his removal from flight training.
Prior to joining Flydubai, al-Hammami worked at Oman Air for seven years before leaving in February 2025, and later joined Royal Air Maroc from June 2025 to January 2026. His LinkedIn profile, which has since been deleted, mentioned his aviation management studies at Buckinghamshire New University in 2023. Israeli officials believe al-Hammami had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
The investigation into the incident is being conducted by Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, as well as the UAE attorney general probing potential links to terrorism.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- FlyDubai co-pilot had previously been fired from Oman Air for "extremist views," sources said cbsnews.com
- Omani co-pilot linked to Flydubai cockpit attack identified hindustantimes.com
- Flydubai FZ1073 security questions: How did an ‘Omani’ co-pilot get onto a Tel Aviv-bound flight? indianexpress.com
