Flydubai Co-Pilot Reportedly Intended to Crash Plane in Israel

The flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to sabotage a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar had previously been barred from flying by Oman after authorities reportedly raised concerns about his alleged extremist views, according to media reports.

The co-pilot was identified as Hamam Alhammami, an Omani national born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the reports, Alhammami spent significant periods outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly exposed to extremist ideas.

Alhammami was reportedly working as a co-pilot trainee with Oman Air in 2024 when he was found in possession of extremist material. Although he was allowed to remain with the airline in an administrative position, he was barred from flying after being deemed a security risk.

Despite the restriction, Alhammami was later employed by flydubai, enabling him to operate flights between the UAE and Israel. Reports also alleged that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel.

Suspected social media profiles

Alhammami had worked for flydubai for only eight months, CNN reported. A now-deleted LinkedIn profile in his name reportedly stated that he had spent seven years at Oman Air before leaving in February 2025.

He reportedly joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025 and left the airline in January this year before moving to flydubai.

The profile reportedly published two posts within around nine hours of the flydubai incident, both linked to terrorism.

One post reportedly contained cockpit footage from a Boeing 737 Max, with the person recording zooming in on an aircraft operated by Israeli airline El Al. The video ended with images of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who succeeded Osama bin Laden as al-Qaeda leader, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who killed nine people in a 2009 suicide bombing in the United States.

Another post reportedly featured an AI-generated image depicting Islam's three holiest sites in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, alongside a poem about rejecting humiliation, not fearing death and defending one's dignity, CNN reported.

CNN also reported that a now-deleted X account believed to belong to Alhammami portrayed him as “deeply religious and misogynistic”.

Earlier this week, Alhammami allegedly attempted to sabotage the flydubai aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 passengers, including 24 children, before stabbing Captain Machchhar when the pilot intervened.

The Boeing 737 was reportedly cruising at around 34,000 feet when it began descending at approximately 23,000 feet per minute, reaching an altitude of about 15,600 feet. Despite being injured, Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to intervene and overpower the attacker.

Footage from inside the aircraft showed passengers in panic, with people shouting as the incident unfolded. Captain Machchhar was seen lying in a pool of blood outside the cockpit and saying that his co-pilot had struck him. A crew member was also heard asking passengers if a doctor was on board.

Passengers seated near the front of the aircraft helped pull the attacker away from the cockpit. Among them was Yaniv Hayoun, who reportedly restrained the co-pilot and dragged him away.

A dentist on board provided emergency assistance to Captain Machchhar.

Two other relief pilots seated at the rear of the aircraft then took control and diverted the flight to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.