An Omani co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flight bound for Israel with an axe in what authorities have described as a terrorist incident had previously been barred from flying by his home country over concerns about extremist views, officials said Saturday.
The co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami by diplomats familiar with the case, targeted the pilot aboard a FlyDubai aircraft carrying 182 passengers on Wednesday. United Arab Emirates authorities, leading the investigation, reported that al-Hammami used the cockpit’s crash axe in the attack in an attempt to seize control of the plane, which was plunging at the time. Passengers and crew intervened, ultimately subduing him and preventing a potential crash.
The incident raised questions about FlyDubai’s hiring and vetting processes and how al-Hammami, who is from Oman—a country that does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel—was allowed to serve on a flight to Israel. Israeli officials have said they maintain agreements with foreign carriers to restrict pilots from nations lacking diplomatic ties from operating flights to the country. How this breach occurred remains under inquiry.
According to a regional official and an individual familiar with the investigation, both speaking on condition of anonymity, Oman had removed al-Hammami from flying duties due to concerns about extremist inclinations, subsequently assigning him to an administrative role with Oman Air. Details about the nature of his alleged extremist views were not disclosed.
Despite his prior dismissal from flying roles in Oman, al-Hammami was later employed by FlyDubai, headquartered in the UAE. A Gulf diplomat familiar with the situation indicated the co-pilot underwent routine security screenings focused primarily on criminal records before being hired; however, these checks did not extend to evaluating potential radicalization.
The United Arab Emirates government has a track record of stringent counter-extremism measures but has expressed dissatisfaction with criticisms of its security enforcement. The incident comes at a sensitive moment, occurring just days before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza and ahead of a critical Israeli election where national security remains a paramount issue. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the co-pilot’s employment and access to the flight.