Omani Co-Pilot Barred From Flying, Rejected by Another Airline, Still Reached Cockpit En Route to Israel

New details emerging about the background of co-pilot Al-Mammi, an Omani national suspected of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, raise further questions about how he managed to access a cockpit again. Investigations reveal that warning signs regarding his conduct and views had surfaced years prior to the incident. He had been removed from flight duties at his previous airline and was not hired by another carrier, yet he was subsequently employed by Flydubai and allowed to fly on routes to Israel.

Al-Mammi, an Omani citizen born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, worked for Oman's national airline for approximately seven years. During his tenure, significant concerns arose about his ideology and behavior. In 2024, while serving as a co-pilot, extremist materials were reportedly found, leading to his removal from flight duties and reassignment to an administrative role. This effectively prevented him from piloting aircraft, as Omani authorities allegedly identified concerns about his ideological stances.

Authorities are also examining periods Al-Mammi spent in Syria, his mother's homeland. He reportedly stayed in Syria for extended periods, and Omani authorities began to suspect he was exposed to and influenced by extremist ideas there. While the exact time and place of this radicalization process are still under investigation, the fact that serious concerns about his views previously led to him being grounded is a central focus.

After leaving the Omani airline in February 2025, Al-Mammi sought to continue his aviation career. In June 2025, he underwent several months of training with Royal Air Maroc, Morocco's national airline, but was not hired as a pilot and left in January 2026. This means that before joining Flydubai, he had two professional experiences that now raise questions: one where he was prohibited from flying due to radicalization concerns, and another where he trained but was ultimately not employed.

Al-Mammi joined Flydubai in early 2026 and returned to active duty in the cockpit. He served as a co-pilot for months, despite previous indications that led another airline to ground him. It remains unclear whether Flydubai was aware of the decision made about him in Oman or if the information was not transferred. Israeli security agencies are investigating whether this was his first flight to Israel.

Following the incident, disturbing content was revealed from a social media account attributed to Al-Mammi. Posts uploaded hours after the attempted hijacking, possibly pre-scheduled, included cockpit videos of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the model involved in the incident. One video focused on an El Al plane at Dubai Airport, and other footage showed Israeli aircraft. A final post featured a picture of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former leader of Al-Qaeda. This content is being analyzed to understand his ideological background and motives.

The incident occurred during a flight from Dubai to Israel when Al-Mammi attacked the captain with an emergency axe in the cockpit and attempted to seize control. The captain, despite being injured, managed to enable the crew and passengers to subdue Al-Mammi, preventing a disaster. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers were safe. The UAE has classified the investigation as a terrorism attempt, examining motives, radicalization, and potential external involvement.

Currently, there is no proof that Al-Mammi acted on behalf of a state, terrorist organization, or other external entity. While all possibilities are being investigated, the current assessment suggests he may have acted alone. An Iranian connection has also been explored but not substantiated. The investigation in the UAE involves Israeli authorities, who seek a full picture of his motives and how he bypassed screening mechanisms. The core questions are not just what happened on the plane, but how someone with prior security concerns could return to a cockpit and fly on a route with Israeli passengers.

The affair raises serious questions about information sharing between countries, security agencies, and airlines. If Al-Mammi was officially barred from flying due to radicalization fears, the lack of a mechanism for other airlines to know this when he applied for new positions is a major concern. Israel is also examining how an Omani citizen was cleared for a flight to Tel Aviv and whether background checks on foreign crew members were adequate. Security procedures and information requirements for foreign airline crews operating flights to Israel are expected to be re-evaluated.

As more details of Al-Mammi's past emerge, the picture of missed warnings that could have prevented his return to flight duties becomes clearer. His grounding in Oman, rejection by the Moroccan airline, time spent in Syria, and disturbing social media content are all key parts of the ongoing investigation. His ability to join Flydubai and reach the cockpit of a plane bound for Israel, despite these red flags, is expected to trigger a deep review within the aviation industry and security apparatuses. While the investigation is far from over, it is evident that beyond the suspect's criminal responsibility, the case highlights a significant gap in how security information about aircrew is shared between companies and countries.