The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel informed investigators in the United Arab Emirates that he hatched the attack prior to joining the Emirati airline over a year ago, an Israeli official reported. According to the official, the co-pilot intended to crash the FlyDubai jet into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Multiple sources familiar with the investigation identified the co-pilot to CBS News as Omani national Hamam al Hamami. Insiders indicated that a series of major security lapses preceded the incident, suggesting it should have been prevented long before takeoff. Eytan Ben David, a former deputy head of aviation security at El Al, stated that Israel’s security protocols should have barred al Hamami from flying to Tel Aviv. The September 30 flight was nearing Israel when the co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain with a crash ax and tried to crash the aircraft, as stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers, and the flight captain. Ben David noted that Oman lacks formal diplomatic relations with Israel, meaning an Omani pilot should never have been authorized to fly into the country. Sources familiar with the probe suggested al Hamami might hold dual citizenship, potentially explaining his clearance to fly to Israel. FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar successfully fended off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the cockpit door, speaking from a hospital bed in Saudi Arabia where he recovered from stab wounds. Israeli passengers, FlyDubai staff, and two off-duty pilots on board managed to overpower the co-pilot, executing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israel enacted a law in 2023 requiring foreign airlines to submit advance crew and passenger manifests to prevent terrorism. Following the incident, Israel’s transportation ministry and security agencies stated they were not responsible for vetting foreign flight crews, though Ben David argued the duty rests with the transportation ministry’s security division. Sources revealed that al Hamami was previously dismissed as a pilot by Oman Air following pilot training, after Omani authorities monitored him visiting radical websites. Oman Air reassigned him to an office role, and he resigned around 2024 before moving to Dubai to join FlyDubai, which reportedly did not vet him with the Omani government. FlyDubai declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation. Al Hamami is an Omani citizen born outside the country, with a Syrian mother and Omani father, though Oman’s government has not officially confirmed his nationality. U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted that such a flight risk should not have been operating a commercial jet, while President Trump suggested a possible connection to Iran.
Source: cbsnews.com
