Omani Co-Pilot Who Tried to Crash Flydubai Jet Had Islamist Radicalization Concerns

New details have emerged regarding the co-pilot who attempted to seize control of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel, intending to crash the plane. Identified as Humam Al-Hamami, an Omani citizen, he had previously been removed from flying duties due to concerns over Islamist radicalization. According to CNN, Al-Hamami, born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, had spent part of his life in the Emirates. ABC reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation, that he is cooperating with investigators in the UAE and stated his intention was to crash the plane over Israel. In 2024, while working as a co-pilot for Oman Air, "extremist materials" were found in his possession, leading to his reassignment to an administrative role. AP reported that he was banned from flying due to fears he had adopted extremist views, though it is unclear if this information was shared with Flydubai. A diplomatic source told AP that Al-Hamami passed standard security checks, which focused on criminal records rather than deep dives into potential radicalization. Al-Hamami reportedly spent extended periods outside Oman, particularly in Syria, his mother's country of origin. A source cited by Al Arabiya suggested Omani authorities were aware of his extremist ideas, possibly influenced during his time in Syria. AP also reported a regional official confirmed Al-Hamami had traveled to Syria previously. He worked for Oman Air for approximately seven years, leaving in February 2025, and later applied to Royal Air Maroc, which rejected his candidacy after a theoretical training period. He was subsequently hired by Flydubai. Al-Hamami also studied aviation management remotely at Buckinghamshire New University in England, completing a three-year course in 2023, though the university confirmed he did not undergo flight training there. Most unusually, two posts appeared on his LinkedIn account about nine hours after the incident, possibly pre-scheduled. One featured videos from a Boeing 737 MAX cockpit, including a zoom-in on an El Al plane at Dubai International Airport on October 11, 2023, during an Oman Air flight. This post also included footage of Arkia planes and concluded with images of Ayman al-Zawahiri and Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a CIA base bombing in Afghanistan in 2009. Another post contained an AI-generated image of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem connected by a glowing path, with background audio discussing resistance and defense of honor. A now-deleted X account attributed to Al-Hamami also contained extremist religious statements. The investigation is examining the possibility that Al-Hamami had previously flown to Israel, which would raise further questions about the vetting process. The investigation against Al-Hamami is being conducted in the UAE, after he was transferred from Saudi Arabia. The UAE Public Prosecutor announced the incident is being investigated as a terror attack attempt, stating the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the flight systems. The plane carried 182 people. The Indian captain fought back, and passengers and crew managed to neutralize the co-pilot. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. There is no evidence yet that Al-Hamami was directed by a state or terrorist organization. Security agencies from several regional countries, with assistance from the US and other Western nations, are continuing to investigate his motives and background. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the co-pilot had undergone "Islamic radicalization" and that ties to Iran were being investigated.