Oman Banned FlyDubai Co-Pilot Over Extremist Views Before Mid-Air Attack

Flight Attack Details

An Omani co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai flight with 182 people aboard was earlier barred from flying by his native Oman over concerns about extremist views. The co-pilot, identified by CBS News sources as Hamam al Hamami, worked previously for Oman Air and was moved to a desk job after surveillance showed him visiting radical websites. He resigned around 2024, moved to Dubai, and was hired by FlyDubai without checks with the Omani government. During the Wednesday flight, passengers heard a fight inside the closed cockpit before the plane suddenly dropped to 16,600 feet. Wounded captain Smit Machchhar fought off the attacker long enough to unlock the cockpit door, and passengers and off-duty pilots subdued the co-pilot before the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Investigation and Reactions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker underwent Islamist radicalization and tried to crash the plane. U.S. President Donald Trump said early information suggests links to Tehran, warning of a heavy response if Iranian agents were behind it, though Israeli officials noted no current evidence of an Iran link. UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called the incident a dangerous terrorist act and praised the flight captain. Meanwhile, the UAE has canceled all flights to Israel, prompting repatriation flights by carriers like Arkia and Israir to bring stranded passengers home.

Context

The incident highlights severe aviation security concerns and places intense scrutiny on airline vetting procedures in the Middle East. Travel between the UAE and Israel had grown significantly since the 2020 Abraham Accords normalising ties, making direct commercial routes vital for thousands of regional passengers.