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Flydubai co-pilot was banned by Oman over radical views, terrorist images found on social media: Reports

Investigators are examining the Flydubai suspect’s past security concerns, alleged cockpit attack and possible motive.

The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar during a flight to Israel had previously been identified as a security risk while working with Oman Air, according to senior intelligence and law enforcement officials cited by ABC News and diplomatic sources cited by CNN.

Sources told the outlet that the suspect was found with extremist material while he was a trainee co-pilot in 2024. He was later allowed to work in an administrative role, the sources said.

Also Read: Injured, under attack, but ‘one last push’: 3 chilling details Indian pilot Smit Machchhar gave PM Modi on flydubai nightmare

Investigators are now examining how he was later able to join Flydubai and serve as first officer on a flight bound for Tel Aviv.

Flydubai suspect was flagged while working for Oman Air

According to ABC News, the suspect was suspended by Oman Air after officials identified him as a security concern in 2024. Sources said extremist materials were found in his possession during that period.

The sources said he was not removed completely from the airline and instead continued working in an administrative position. Officials are now looking into what happened between that earlier security concern and his later employment with Flydubai.

He was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and is cooperating with investigators, according to sources cited by ABC News.

Suspect's social media had terrorist images: Report

The pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, two sources familiar with the matter and an Israeli official told CNN.

A LinkedIn profile under the name Hamam al-Hammami, which was deleted after the incident, indicated he had worked at Oman Air for 7 years. One of the sources confirmed to CNN that the profile belonged to the Flydubai pilot involved in Wednesday's incident.

The profile had only two posts, both published within a short span on Wednesday, around nine hours after the incident. It remains unclear who uploaded the posts or whether they had been scheduled in advance.

The first post contained a series of videos filmed inside the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Notably, the Flydubai aircraft that diverted to Saudi Arabia during Wednesday's incident was also a Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

The video reportedly ends with photographs of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over al Qaeda after Osama Bin Laden's death, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who killed nine people, including seven American CIA officers and contractors, in a 2009 suicide bombing. Al-Balawi was loyal to al Qaeda.

The second post showed an AI-generated image of Islam's three holiest sites: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. A defiant poem playing in the background spoke of refusing humiliation, having no fear of death and standing up for one's dignity, as per the CNN report.

Smit Machchhar was stabbed during Flydubai flight

The incident happened Wednesday on Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit, leaving the Indian captain seriously injured.

The aircraft then went into a steep descent. Machchhar later told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he knew the aircraft was going down and managed to open the cockpit door while injured. “I knew that the aircraft was going down ... I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it and people entered,” he said, according to Reuters.

Passengers then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the suspect. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The flight was carrying 182 people, according to The Associated Press.

Also Read: flydubai suspends Tel Aviv flights after cockpit incident; CEO says ‘investigation will establish facts’

UAE investigates motive behind Flydubai cockpit attack

The UAE has opened an investigation into the incident. Prosecutors are examining the circumstances and motive, including whether the attack involved terrorist activity or prior planning, according to the UAE state news agency WAM and ABC News.

The suspect has reportedly indicated to investigators that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, according to sources briefed on the investigation. That claim has not been independently established, and investigators are still working to determine what led to the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the suspect as having undergone “Islamist radicalization” and said authorities were examining whether someone else had directed him. His comments are part of the ongoing investigation and do not by themselves establish the suspect’s motive or any outside involvement.

Flydubai said it has temporarily suspended its Tel Aviv operations at the request of authorities while an official investigation continues.

Sehjal Gupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times and is part of the US Desk. She covers a wide range of stories from the United States, including politics, sports, entertainment, breaking news, and major global developments. She enjoys working across different beats because every story brings a fresh perspective and an opportunity to explore something different. Before joining Hindustan Times, Sehjal was part of The Times of India, where she headed the International Sports and US Streamers team. She reported on international sports, athlete stories, streamer news, and major developments from around the world. The role gave her the opportunity to work on a diverse range of stories while leading coverage across two evolving news categories. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and believes the experience taught her the importance of staying organised, managing priorities, and adapting to new challenges. Over the years, she has reported on a variety of topics and enjoys taking on stories that keep her curious and encourage her to look beyond the obvious. Expertise: International news, International/US sports, and streamer coverage. Interests: Global affairs, geopolitics, politics, and entertainment. Outside work, Sehjal loves travelling, watching movies, and exploring new places to eat. She enjoys discovering new cultures and believes that some of the best stories and experiences come from stepping outside her comfort zone and exploring unfamiliar places.Read More