Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports
Por Vishwam Sankaran — – World RSS Feed
Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports
The alleged attacker is an Omani national born in UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, according to reports
Vishwam Sankaran Saturday 03 October 2026 07:57 BST
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The co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, according to reports.
He was banned from flying last year over concerns that he had radical ideological views, according to Saudi state media.
The attacker was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother, CNN reported.
On Wednesday, the FlyDubai flight carrying 182 passengers plunged over 14,000ft in less than 30 seconds as it flew over Saudi Arabia on the journey from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.
open image in galleryIt was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing after passengers wrestled and incapacitated a man who attacked his co-pilot with an axe in a suspected hijacking.
Israeli authorities told CNN that al-Hammami had been working for FlyDubai only for eight months.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the suspect was believed to have undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”.
“He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board…We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price,” the Israeli prime minister said, praising passengers for preventing a “tragedy like 9/11”.
The co-pilot of flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, the UAE prosecutor general said on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM. The co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with an axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the prosecutor general said.
open image in galleryInvestigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.
A passenger who ran to the front of the plane during the scuffle said in an interview earlier this week that the attacker, restrained and on the floor, told him he was from Oman.
Associated Press also confirmed the identity of the alleged attacker, quoting three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf and a Western diplomat. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The Gulf diplomat said investigations are underway to establish whether he acted as a “lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups”.
It also remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns about the pilot’s radicalisation with other countries or airlines.
open image in galleryThe co-pilot was barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views, a separate person familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.
He is “cooperating” with authorities investigating the incident and reportedly said that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, ABC News reported, citing anonymous sources.
With circumstances surrounding the incident still under investigation, FlyDubai said on Saturday that it is not in a position to comment further.
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ReutersUnited Arab EmiratesOmanSaudi ArabiaIsraelSyriaBenjamin NetanyahuABC News
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