Flydubai Co-Pilot Identified As Omani National After Alleged Attempt To Crash Israel-Bound Flight
Further details have emerged regarding the Flydubai co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, who allegedly attempted to crash a flight to Tel Aviv. Reports indicate he had previously been grounded in Oman due to concerns over extremist views, raising questions about his subsequent hiring by Flydubai.
Why it matters
The revelation of a prior history of extremism highlights potential failures in international aviation background check and information-sharing systems.
According to reports, the aircraft was flying over Saudi Arabia when al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain inside the cockpit.
The co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Flydubai passenger aircraft and allegedly attempting to crash the Israel-bound flight has been identified as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national.
The identification was reported by the Associated Press as investigators continued probing the September 30 incident involving Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people aboard.
The incident sent the aircraft into two sudden dives, with flight-tracking data indicating that it plunged more than 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds.
The captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, reportedly managed to fight off the co-pilot and unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.
Two off-duty pilots who were travelling as passengers subsequently helped regain control of the aircraft.
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