Flydubai Omani Co-Pilot Flying Ban: Alhamami Allegedly Planned FZ1073 Crash in Israel

A co-pilot of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, who was accused of attempting to sabotage a flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv and of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar, is said to have been banned from flying in Oman following concerns raised by the authorities about his extremist beliefs.

The Wall Street Journal stated that the flydubai co-pilot Hamam Alhamami is an Omani by citizenship and was born in the United Arab Emirates to a father who is Omani and a mother who is Syrian.

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Hamam Alhamami Extremist Views: Oman Air Trainee Pilot Reportedly Barred From Flying Over Extremist Material

Flydubai Omani Co-Pilot Flying Ban: It is reported that Alhammami spent a great deal of his time abroad, particularly in Syria, where he is said to have been influenced by extremist beliefs.

It has been reported that in 2024 Alhammami was undergoing training as a co-pilot with Oman Air when the authorities discovered extremist materials in his possession.

It was said he was allowed to continue working for the airline in an administrative capacity but was prohibited from flying because he was regarded as a security risk.

Flydubai Omani Co-Pilot Crash Attempt: Flydubai Pilot Allegedly Planned to Crash Plane in Israel After Ban

Flydubai Omani Co-Pilot Flying Ban: Following this ban, the Dubai-based airline flydubai employed Alhammami and had him fly the route from the UAE to Israel.

It was reported that Alhammami had intended to crash the flydubai plane in Israel.

Flydubai Omani Co-Pilot Flying Ban: Flydubai Pilot Alhammami’s Past, Deleted Posts Come Under Scrutiny

According news media, Alhammami had been employed by flydubai for just eight months.

A LinkedIn profile under his name that has since been deleted claimed that he had worked at Oman Air for seven years before quitting in February 2025; he then joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and stayed there until January 2026 before going on to join flydubai.

It is reported that the profile published two posts within approximately nine hours of the flydubai incident, both of which were described as being related to terrorism.

One of the posts allegedly consisted of several clips taken from the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max, the camera focusing on an aircraft operated by the Israeli carrier El Al.

The video is said to have finished with pictures of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was the leader of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden died, and of Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a suicide bombing in the United States in 2009.

The post also contained an AI-generated image of Islam's three holiest sites: Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

The picture contained a poem which expressed rejection of humiliation, not fearing death, and a commitment to defending one's dignity.

As per media report, it also stated that Alhammami's X account, which has now been deleted, presented him as being deeply religious and misogynistic.

This week Alhammami is said to have attempted to sabotage a flydubai plane which was carrying over 170 passengers, including 24 children.

He then attacked and stabbed Captain Machchhar, who was attempting to prevent him. At that time the Boeing 737 was flying at approximately 34,000 feet and is said to have started descending at a rate of about 23,000 feet per minute, finally reaching about 15,600 feet.

Smit Machchhar Saves Flydubai Passengers: Injured Captain Opens Cockpit Door as Passengers Overpower Attacking Co-Pilot

Even though he was injured, Captain Machchhar is said to have managed to open the cockpit door, which then enabled the crew and the passengers to get in and overcome the attacker.

Footage taken inside the plane displayed a state of chaos, with the passengers and the crew shouting in panic.

The film also revealed Captain Machchhar lying beside a pool of blood outside the cockpit and stating that his co-pilot had attacked him; it was reported that he could move his hand but could not squeeze it, and a member of the crew asked whether there was a doctor amongst the passengers.

The passengers who were situated at the front of the plane assisted in getting the attacker away from the cockpit.

A passenger named Yaniv Hayoun is said to have seized the co-pilot, held him, and pulled him away from the cockpit, after which emergency medical assistance was provided to Captain Machchhar.

Then two further relief pilots, who were sitting in the back of the plane, took over and diverted the flight to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

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