A flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to sabotage a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and attacking Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar had reportedly been prohibited from flying in Oman over concerns about his alleged extremist views, according to media reports.
The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Alhammami, an Omani national who was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, according to a report .
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Reports said Alhammami spent significant periods outside Oman, including time in Syria, where he was allegedly exposed to extremist influences.
According to the reports, Alhammami was working as a trainee co-pilot with Oman Air in 2024 when authorities reportedly found him in possession of material considered extremist. He was subsequently removed from flying duties after being assessed as a security concern.
However, rather than being dismissed from the airline, Alhammami was reportedly allowed to continue working in an administrative capacity.
He later joined flydubai as a pilot, despite the earlier restrictions imposed on him in Oman. This enabled him to operate flights, including the sensitive Dubai-Tel Aviv route linking the UAE and Israel.
The incident has raised questions over aviation security and the sharing of information about personnel considered potential security risks across airlines and jurisdictions. Reports said the incident is now also the subject of wider scrutiny involving the circumstances surrounding Alhammami’s employment and subsequent actions.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
