Social Media Posts Show Extremist Views of Co-Pilot Who Attacked Flydubai Flight

New details reveal that Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani national accused of attacking a Flydubai flight, shared extreme posts online while studying at a British university. During his time at Buckinghamshire New University from late 2021 to mid-2022, his social media accounts promoted violence against women, abuse against gay people, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Attack

The incident happened when a Flydubai Boeing 737 Max flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into an emergency roughly two hours after takeoff. The co-pilot used a crash axe from the cockpit to attack the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar. The aircraft plunged about 17,000 feet before travelers and crew members subdued the co-pilot. The plane safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door to let help in. Investigators say the suspect intended to crash the flight into Israel.

Investigation and Background

Al-Hammami is currently held in custody in Abu Dhabi, and the UAE prosecutor general has labeled the event an attempted terrorist act. Israeli security teams went to the UAE to question him, while officials check if he worked alone or had help. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that any accomplices will face severe consequences. Meanwhile, Oman Air had previously taken him off flight duties after intelligence teams found radical material on his devices. British media reports indicate he earned a distance-learning aviation management degree in 2023, and the university confirmed it does not handle pilot training.

Context

Online degree programs and international student vetting have faced renewed scrutiny following this event. Aviation security protocols rely on strict background checks during hiring and airport clearance, separate from academic institutions. Incidents of cockpit breaches are exceedingly rare due to heavy security measures, but they prompt global reviews of airline personnel monitoring.