Flydubai Omani co-pilot trained in UK, New Zealand, Australia: How Hamam al-Hammami slipped through aviation safety nets

Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami, infamous for attempting to hijack a flydubai flight destined for Israel, was subsequently hired by the airline, according to a Wall Street Journal report released on Tuesday. This occurred amid a mass hiring campaign by the United Arab Emirates-based carrier to bolster its pilot workforce. The WSJ's report emerged following allegations that Hammami had been previously barred from flying due to his radical ideological beliefs and that flydubai may have hired him in February without conducting comprehensive background checks.

The airline's recruitment drive commenced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic as flydubai sought to expand its model of low-cost, high-volume flights in response to a broader industry shortage of pilots. Flydubai's staff count surged from 3,682 in 2012 to 6,763 by the end of 2025. At the time of the attempted hijacking, the carrier employed around 1,500 pilots.

In pursuit of additional talent, flydubai initiated several recruitment strategies, such as organizing recruitment events in Italy, Ireland, and Poland. Last year, the airline introduced a new training program for pilots aged 18 to 30, established a 38,000-square-foot flight training center in Dubai, and launched a cadet program to cultivate foreign pilots.

Additionally, flydubai reduced the necessary flight hours for applicants seeking a junior, second-officer pilot position, while simultaneously raising salaries for new captains and first officers.

The report suggests that flydubai classifies airports based on their difficulty, enabling pilots with limited experience to operate on routes to less challenging destinations. Pilots speaking to the WSJ revealed that Ben-Gurion Airport was regarded as one of the airline's most appealing destinations, despite security concerns. However, the source could not determine how Hammami was allocated the Ben-Gurion mission, and aviation industry insiders are now questioning whether flydubai's hiring procedures may have played a role in allowing the first officer access to the sensitive route.