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Flydubai Co-Pilot Banned in Oman Over Radical Views, Later Hired: Report
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News18•03-10-2026, 07:43
Flydubai Co-Pilot Banned in Oman Over Radical Views, Later Hired: Report
- •Hamam Al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar, was reportedly banned from flying in Oman due to radical ideological views.
- •The Wall Street Journal indicates Al-Hammami's previous ban raises questions about Flydubai's hiring process and information sharing among authorities.
- •ABC News reported that Oman Air suspended Al-Hammami after identifying him as a security risk, with extremist material allegedly found during his 2024 trainee period.
- •Officials are investigating how Al-Hammami subsequently became a pilot for Flydubai despite prior security concerns.
- •The September 30 incident involved a dramatic dive during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight after the co-pilot's alleged attack, leading to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Key Questions Answered
Hamam Al-Hammami was previously banned from flying in Oman and suspended by Oman Air over concerns regarding radical ideological views and after extremist material was allegedly found while he was a trainee in 2024.
During the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, causing the aircraft to make a dramatic dive before executing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Despite his injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to intervene and help stop the attack.
