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JD Vance Questions Aviation Security After FlyDubai Co-Pilot Attack
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News18•05-10-2026, 22:09
JD Vance Questions Aviation Security After FlyDubai Co-Pilot Attack
- •US Vice President JD Vance questioned how the Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, was allowed back in the cockpit despite previous concerns about him.
- •Hammami had reportedly been grounded in Oman over extremist views before leaving Oman Air and getting hired by FlyDubai.
- •The co-pilot allegedly attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit axe on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight carrying 182 passengers.
- •Vance highlighted flaws in international aviation vetting systems and cross-airline communication regarding pilot security risks.
- •Vance stated that the US is reviewing procedures and examining a potential Iran connection, though no final conclusions have been reached.
Key Questions Answered
Hamam al-Hammami had previously been grounded in Oman due to concerns regarding his extremist views before eventually being hired by FlyDubai and flying a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
JD Vance questioned how Hamam al-Hammami was allowed back into the cockpit despite prior warnings, emphasizing that security systems failed to keep him out of commercial aviation.
JD Vance stated that no final conclusion had been reached yet regarding a potential Iran connection, noting that officials are deferring to intelligence experts like John Ratcliffe while investigations continue.
