Who is Hamam al-Hammami? Flydubai co-pilot, who stabbed India’s Smit Machchhar

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

3 min readOct 3, 2026 09:40 AM IST First published on: Oct 3, 2026 at 09:36 AM IST

Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar: The Boeing 737 jet, with 174 passengers on board, sounded emergency alerts before landing at the Tabuk airport.

The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar on a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, according to CNN. An Israeli official and Saudi state media have also confirmed his name, CNN says. He is now in the UAE, where he faces a terrorism investigation.

Several news outlets have since pieced together his background. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported Oman had banned him from flying over concerns that he had adopted radical ideological views, and that flydubai hired him anyway. The Associated Press (AP) gives the same account of the ban and the hiring.

How did his Hamam al-Hammami’s ‘extremist ideals come to the fore?

Hamam al-Hammami worked at Oman Air for nearly seven years. However, his alleged radical ideology was revealed only after the airline found extremist material in his possession during his training as a co-pilot in 2024, reported ABC News, citing intelligence and law enforcement officials.

CNN traced his work history, his education and the social media accounts linked to him. Investigators are now trying to work out how he came to be in the cockpit of a plane bound for Israel, a country Oman does not recognise.

Who is Hamam al-Hammami?

CNN reported that al-Hammami is an Omani citizen who was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Al Arabiya English reported he spent a lot of time outside Oman, mainly in Syria, where he was influenced by extremist ideas before moving to the UAE.

Story continues below this ad

A now-deleted LinkedIn profile in his name read he worked at Oman Air for seven years and left in February 2025. It said he then joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left in January 2026. CNN says one of its sources confirmed the profile is his. An Israeli official told CNN he had worked for flydubai for only eight months.

The profile also said he studied at Buckinghamshire New University in England. CNN says the university confirmed that a man of that name finished a three-year distance learning course and graduated in aviation management in 2023. The Jerusalem Post, citing sources close to the investigation, reported he holds no second nationality.

Why Oman barred him from flying

The outlets describe the move in slightly different terms.

AP‘s source said Oman Air barred him from flying because it feared he had adopted extremist views. AP adds that it is not clear how closely he was checked when flydubai hired him. Wall Street Journal was the first to report Oman Air’s move.

Story continues below this ad

WSJ further said that despite the ban, flydubai hired him. That let him fly the sensitive route between the UAE and Israel.

ABC News reported that he was found with extremist material in 2024, while he was a trainee co-pilot at Oman Air. Despite that, the airline kept him in an administrative official’s capacity.

CNN, too, said he was removed from flight training over concerns about his radical views.

None of these outlets describe the material recovered from him or what views he held. The year of the discovery also differs: ABC News says 2024, while CNN‘s account, and the dates on the LinkedIn profile, point to 2025.

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