Questions mount over flydubai co-pilot after alleged cockpit assault
Reports have identified the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the Indian captain of a flydubai flight bound for Israel as Hamam al-Hammami. Details about his previous airline employment and alleged extremist views have emerged, though his nationality and several aspects of his background remain unconfirmed.
Questions are being raised about how an Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a flydubai flight bound for Israel entered the cockpit, after reports highlighted his previous airline employment and alleged extremist views. The co-pilot was identified by Al Arabiya as Hamam al-Hammami. He is accused of attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar aboard flight FZ1073 earlier this week in what reports described as an apparent attempt to seize control of the aircraft and crash it.
The incident took place on September 30, and al-Hammami is in UAE custody, according to the supplied material. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said the co-pilot had undergone “Islamic radical indoctrination”, without providing details. Reports have also referred to social-media images of al-Qaeda terrorists, alleged visits to radical websites and strongly religious views.
These claims have not been independently verified in the supplied material. Al-Hammami is reported to have been born to an Omani father and a Syrian mother and to have spent most of his life in the United Arab Emirates. The Omani government has not officially confirmed his nationality.
Reports have suggested he may hold dual citizenship. Before joining flydubai, reportedly about eight months before the incident, al-Hammami worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc. During his time at Oman Air, he reportedly attracted scrutiny over his views and online activity, was removed from flying duties and assigned office work.
He later left the airline. A LinkedIn profile under his name says he worked for Oman Air for seven years, joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. India Today said it could not independently verify that the profile belonged to the co-pilot, although the timeline reportedly matched his employment history.
A colleague told Israel’s Channel 16 that al-Hammami was deeply religious, prayed frequently and did not shake hands with women. The Times of Israel also reported those observations. The supplied material does not include details of charges or a response from flydubai or the authorities.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.