Omani Co‑Pilot’s Extremist Past Sparks FlyDubai Hijacking Attempt
A 29‑year‑old Oman‑born co‑pilot, name Hamam al‑Hammami, allegedly sought to crash the FlyDubai jet into Tel Aviv’s airport.
Interviews with UAE Attorney‑General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi reveal that the pilot’s radicalisation began during his studies in Australia from 2015‑17, when he was alleged to have consumed extremist literature and online propaganda.
On 30 September the pilot, armed with an emergency crash axe, attacked the captain inside the cockpit. Passengers fought back, forced him to surrender, and regained the cockpit, allowing the crew to divert the aircraft to Saudi Arabia for a safe landing.
Security experts point to a lapse in FlyDubai’s vetting process: the co‑pilot had been barred from flying by Oman Air over extremist concerns but was hired after standard checks that failed to detect his background.
Australian authorities have begun probing the pilot’s links to the country, following confirmations that he studied at RMIT in Melbourne and travels in New Zealand and Britain. The case underscores the growing threat of airline terrorism and the need for more rigorous international vetting protocols.
