Flydubai Co-Pilot's Extreme Social Media Posts Revealed

Social media posts made by the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight, Hamas Al-Hamami, who attempted to hijack the plane, reveal extremist views and incitement against Jews. The posts, published between November 2021 and August 2022 while Al-Hamami studied aviation management in the UK, include support for Sharia law punishments and justification of violence. In one exchange, he allegedly wrote, "I will step on your head, wipe the floor with you, make an example of you for others, and then divorce you." He also described physical discipline of women as a "motivated slap" and compared it to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Israeli officials stated that the accounts "clearly show he was radicalized to jihadist ideology" and that he "talks about killing Jews."

Al-Hamami, a 29-year-old Omani citizen, attacked the pilot with an emergency axe in the cockpit and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, which was carrying 182 passengers. The incident nearly resulted in a crash before passengers and crew subdued him. A new reconstruction by the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" suggests that during the struggle, the plane's electrical systems may have been disconnected, potentially leading to the engines being shut off and the aircraft plunging approximately 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds. This possibility remains a technical line of inquiry, not a confirmed conclusion.

Israeli investigators currently believe Al-Hamami acted alone as a "lone wolf attacker," though they are examining potential links to terrorist organizations or state actors. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on his motives, radicalization process, and the circumstances leading to the hijacking attempt.