Hammam al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound flight on Wednesday in a suspected terrorist attack, was banned from flying by Oman over concerns about his radical views, U.S. media reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Omani authorities had banned the first officer due to worries over his radical ideological views. It remains unclear if those concerns were passed on to Flydubai.
The United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation, declined to comment on the pilot’s history in Oman, citing the continuing probe, according to multiple news reports.
However, the UAE Prosecutor General said on Saturday said that the co-pilot, attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, using an axe to wrestle control of the aircraft from the captain.
A Flydubai spokesperson told AnewZ said it was unable to comment further while circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation.
“We remain fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and are in close coordination with the relevant government authorities and regulators,” the spokesperson added.
AnewZ has contacted the government of Oman for comment.
Separately, Fox News reported that Oman’s national carrier, Oman Air, grounded the pilot in 2024 after the airline discovered he had been visiting radial Islamic websites.
ABC News, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials, reported he was identified as a security risk while a co-pilot trainee at Oman Air in 2024.
AnewZ has contacted Oman Air for comment on the reports in U.S. media
Omani national al-Hammami allegedly stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar two hours into the Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
During the alleged attack, the plane plunged almost 5,200 metres, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker.
The flight diverted to Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, and landed safely. Nearly all of the around 180 people aboard were Israeli.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the attacker had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” adding that it appeared he intended to crash the plane.
Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, said that the incident was evidence that the region's struggle with terrorism continued.
"The latest terrorist operation is a new warning that the confrontation has not ended," he said in post on X on Saturday.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stark warning at this year's COP31 summit, saying the climate crisis iss advancing faster than governments' efforts to contain it.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence, energy cooperation and economic resilience topping the agenda. Azerbaijan’s role in regional peace and connectivity was also in focus.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile and drone base, warning that it will respond forcefully to any attack, as tensions persist with the U.S. and oil tankers continue to be struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence, energy cooperation and economic resilience topping the agenda. Azerbaijan’s role in regional peace and connectivity was also in focus.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Tajikistan is urging regional allies to step up support for its border with Afghanistan following a series of deadly armed incidents. Despite building more than 80 new border outposts, Dushanbe says it needs further assistance to secure its southern frontier.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine, but warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.
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