Stories
Co-pilot who attacked Smit Machhar identified: Planned to crash plane in Israel, previously banned!
- •The co-pilot who attacked Indian Captain Smit Machhar on a Flydubai flight has been identified as Hamam Alhamami.
- •Investigations reveal Alhamami intended to crash the plane in Israel, a serious claim under scrutiny.
- •Omani citizen Hamam Alhamami was previously banned from flying by Oman Air due to extremist ideological views.
- •The Wall Street Journal reported he was banned for viewing extremist Islamic websites.
- •Flydubai reportedly did not conduct a background check before hiring him, raising concerns about hiring practices.
Key Questions Answered
The co-pilot who attacked Indian Captain Smit Machhar on the Flydubai flight has been identified as Hamam Alhamami, an Omani citizen. Reports indicate he spent significant time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideologies.
Oman Air banned Hamam Alhamami from flying in 2024 after discovering extremist content in his possession and finding him viewing extremist Islamic websites. Consequently, the airline considered him a security risk and reassigned him from co-pilot trainee duties to administrative tasks.
During a Flydubai flight carrying over 170 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smit Machhar in the cockpit, causing the plane to drop about 14,000 feet. Passengers managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the attacker, allowing the flight to safely divert and land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
