Stories
Flydubai Hijacking Attempt: Co-Pilot's Alleged Al-Qaeda Links Under Probe
N
News18•03-10-2026, 10:24
Flydubai Hijacking Attempt: Co-Pilot's Alleged Al-Qaeda Links Under Probe
- •An attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv involved the co-pilot allegedly attacking the captain, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- •The suspect, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, was reportedly removed from flight training at Oman Air due to extremist views and possession of extremist material.
- •Allegations of links to Al-Qaeda ideology have emerged, with reports citing social media material attributed to the suspect showing images of Al-Qaeda members.
- •Investigators are examining claims of alleged indoctrination into Al-Qaeda ideology, though these are not yet established operational links.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated authorities are investigating the co-pilot's Islamist radicalization and whether he acted alone or was sent by others.
Key Questions Answered
A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain inside the cockpit.
The suspect has been identified in multiple reports as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national who was previously removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns regarding extremist views.
Investigators are examining claims of alleged indoctrination into Al-Qaeda ideology after reports surfaced that extremist material was found in the suspect's possession and social media material included images of Al-Qaeda members.
