Flydubai attack: Omani pilot identified, was flagged as a security risk in 2024 - The Indian Express
Flydubai pilot attack: The pilot suspected of attacking India’s Captain Smit Machchhar on the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, according to CNN. While his Omani nationality had been confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier, his name has come to the fore now. An Israeli official and Saudi state media have also confirmed his identity.
What’s shocking is the fact that al-Hammami secured a job as a commercial airlines pilot with flydubai despite allegedly being flagged as a security threat at Oman Air earlier. He was removed from flight training at Oman’s national airline last year after concerns over his extremist views.
Al-Hammami was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. A LinkedIn profile in his name says he worked at Oman Air for seven years and left in February 2025. It said he joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. The page did not mention flydubai, and it has since been deleted. CNN says it has confirmed that the profile is his.
An Israeli official told CNN that he had been working for flydubai for eight months. The profile also mentioned he studied at Buckinghamshire New University. The university confirmed that a man of that name graduated in aviation management in 2023.
He was taken off flight training at Oman Air in 2024 over concerns for his radical views, and was then given another role at the airline, reported ABC News.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the suspect was believed to have gone through “Islamist radical indoctrination”.
Flydubai is yet to issue a statement on al-Hammami, while the investigation continues.
Two posts appeared on the LinkedIn profile on Wednesday, about nine hours after the incident.
The first showed clips filmed in Boeing 737 Max cockpits. CNN geolocated one clip to Dubai International Airport, where the person filming zooms in on an Israel’s El Al plane. The cockpit screen showed a date in October 2023, when he worked with Oman Air. The video ended with photos of al Qaeda figures Ayman al-Zawahiri and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi.
The second post was an AI-generated image of Islam’s three holiest sites, with a poem about rejecting humiliation and not fearing death. The same videos were posted on an Instagram account, which has also been deleted now.
Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, are looking into how an Omani citizen, from a country that does not recognise Israel, became part of the crew.
On Thursday, the UAE attorney general opened an investigation into whether the attack was linked to “terrorist activity”, state news agency WAM reported.
Netanyahu told CNN that the suspect was questioned in Saudi Arabia, with Israel involved.
The pilot who was attacked, Captain Smit Machchhar, is Indian. The questions over how the suspect was hired and cleared to fly are likely to matter to Indian pilots and passengers who use Gulf airlines.
Mashkoora Khan is a journalist and sub-editor on the global desk at The Indian Express. She actively covers issues around Canada visa, immigration policy, global affairs, and international developments. A trained multimedia journalist, she focuses on producing clear, accurate, and reader-centric explainers on policy-driven subjects that directly affect cross-border mobility and global audiences. Experience Mashkoora has worked across digital newsrooms and independent media platforms, with bylines in national and international publications including Al Jazeera, Down to Earth, The Wire, and Maktoob. Her professional experience spans breaking news, policy explainers, live coverage, and multimedia reporting. At The Indian Express, she is part of the global desk, where she contributes to daily international coverage and plays a role in editing and producing stories on foreign policy, immigration systems, and regulatory changes — particularly those related to Canada’s study, work, and permanent residence pathways. Expertise Her core areas of reporting include: • Canada visa and immigration: Coverage of policy updates, eligibility changes, application processes, and government announcements, with an emphasis on factual explainers and verified information. • Global affairs: Reporting on international politics, diplomacy, and geopolitical developments. • Migration and human impact: Stories that examine how policy decisions affect individuals, families, and migrant communities. Her work prioritises accuracy, sourcing, and context, helping readers navigate complex systems without speculation or exaggeration. Authoritativeness and trustworthiness Mashkoora's reporting is grounded in official data, government releases, and on-record sources, in line with The Indian Express’ editorial standards. Her articles aim to distinguish clearly between verified information and developing updates, making her coverage a reliable reference point for readers seeking clarity on international and immigration-related issues. ... Read More
