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Flydubai Co-Pilot Mid-Air Attack Suspect Identified as Omani — AI-generated representative image. A commercial passenger jet in flight, illustrating the aviation security incident on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

Editorial Team

Aviation security probe into cockpit assault on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight names Hamam al-Hammami, but no official confirmation yet

A Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight has been identified in media reports as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national previously barred from flying in his home country over alleged extremist views.

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday described Wednesday's incident on Flight FZ1073, which carried 174 people, as an attempted "terrorist operation." No official confirmation of the pilot's identity or his beliefs has been issued, and investigators are still working to establish a motive.

The mid-air assault has raised serious concerns about pilot vetting and aviation security, with questions emerging over whether warning signs about the co-pilot's background were raised before he joined the Dubai-based low-cost carrier.

The incident also carries regional security implications, prompting UAE officials to frame it as a reminder that the fight against extremism in the region is not over.

What We Know So Far

The co-pilot was identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, by three people with knowledge of the situation, including a Gulf diplomat and a Western diplomat, who spoke to the AP news agency on condition of anonymity.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said investigators determined the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit using the aircraft's emergency crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft's controls.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Omani authorities had previously barred al-Hammami from flying in the country because of concerns that he had held extremist views.
CNN reported that al-Hammami was born in the UAE to a Syrian mother and spent several years in the Emirates, and was removed from flight training over similar concerns before being reassigned.

The Co-Pilot's Background

Questions have emerged about al-Hammami's previous aviation career and whether warning signs had been raised before he joined Flydubai. It remains unclear what his alleged views were or whether Oman informed other countries or airlines about its concerns.

A LinkedIn profile bearing al-Hammami's name indicated he spent seven years at Oman Air before leaving in February 2025, then joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. Buckinghamshire New University confirmed that al-Hammami completed a distance-learning course in aviation management, stating that he did not undertake any pilot training at the university.

A Gulf diplomat told AP that investigations are under way to establish whether he acted as a "lone wolf or had any connection with any extremist groups."

Timeline of the Flight

At 7:05am (03:05 GMT) on Wednesday, Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai for Tel Aviv, climbing to 34,000 feet, according to Flightradar24. A little more than two hours later, flight-tracking data showed the plane plunging more than 17,000 feet in about two minutes, before climbing and descending again.

Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, later described finding himself seriously wounded on the cockpit floor as the aircraft descended. "When I was down, I could feel that the aircraft was plummeting, and I knew this is the last chance to do something," he told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Passengers and crew entered the cabin and overpowered the co-pilot. Two reserve pilots on board took control and landed the jet in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, at 9:45am local time. Saudi authorities said both pilots were taken to hospital and later transferred to Abu Dhabi after being medically cleared.

Investigation and Next Steps

Abu Dhabi is now leading the investigation, with prosecutors examining the circumstances of the attack, its motive and any possible connections to others. Al-Shamsi said UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag.

Investigators are working to complete technical examinations and examine physical and digital evidence, with final results to be announced once procedures are completed. Flydubai flights to Israel remain suspended amid the investigations.