FlyDubai Co-Pilot Accused of Terror Attempt Visited Israel

New details have emerged regarding the attempted terror attack on a FlyDubai flight to Israel, where co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The UAE's Attorney General stated that the investigation indicates al-Hammami used an emergency axe against the captain and tried to take over the flight controls. The investigation is ongoing and includes technical, forensic, and digital examinations. According to ABC News, al-Hammami is cooperating with investigators and has reportedly confessed that his intention was to crash the plane in Israeli territory. Israeli officials are exploring various motives and whether he acted alone, with security sources suggesting the primary assessment is that he was an independent attacker, with no current indication of direction from other terror groups.

Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national born in the UAE, reportedly worked for Oman Air, then Royal Air Maroc, before joining FlyDubai. His LinkedIn profile, since deleted, indicated this career path. Alarming details from his time at Oman Air emerged in 2024 when extremist materials were found in his possession, leading to his grounding and reassignment to an administrative role. The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman had previously barred him from flying due to concerns over extremist ideologies, though it's unclear if this information was shared with subsequent employers. FlyDubai reportedly did not vet him with Oman Air before hiring him.

Israeli authorities are investigating the possibility that al-Hammami may have previously visited Israel as part of his work as a pilot, a scenario not denied by the Ministry of Transportation, though no confirmation exists yet. This possibility gains significance given his work on the FlyDubai route to Israel. His social media activity is also under scrutiny; LinkedIn posts published on the day of the incident included videos from a Boeing 737 MAX cockpit, focusing on an El Al plane, and referencing flight OMA624 on October 11, 2023, during his tenure at Oman Air. These posts also featured images of former Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and a past suicide bomber, alongside an AI-generated image of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem connected by a glowing path.

An X account under his name, now deleted, reportedly contained extremist religious content and anti-cohabitation views. He also completed a remote aviation management program at Buckinghamshire New University in 2023. Reports suggest he spent significant time outside Oman prior to the incident, including in Syria, where he allegedly underwent radicalization. Israeli officials are expected to participate in the investigation, which is being conducted in the UAE after he was transferred from Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated that the pilot had undergone Islamist radicalization and that the possibility of him being sent by someone is being examined, though no evidence currently links him to Iran or other groups. The main line of investigation in Israel remains that he acted alone.

Israeli passengers who subdued al-Hammami recounted that after he was restrained, some crew members asked for him to be released, raising fears of further crew involvement. The passengers decided to continue holding him. During the struggle, the plane experienced a sharp dive, and the captain, Smith Machacher, was seriously injured. The UAE continues to classify the incident as terrorism, with presidential advisor Anwar Gargash calling it a reminder of the ongoing fight against extremism. FlyDubai stated it cannot provide further details due to the ongoing investigation. Israel is also examining flight security and background checks for foreign crew members.