Flydubai attack: Omani pilot identified, was flagged as a security risk in 2024

Hamam al-Hammami has been identified as the Omani pilot suspected of the flydubai cockpit attack.

3 min readOct 3, 2026 07:54 AM IST First published on: Oct 3, 2026 at 07:47 AM IST

A plane takes off as a flydubai aircraft sits on the tarmac at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo)

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.

Who is Hamam al-Hammami?

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.

Why he left Oman Air

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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

What is found on his online accounts

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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

Who is investigating the flydubai incident?

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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More