The flydubai co-pilot Hamam Al Hamami, accused of attempting to sabotage a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on 30 September 2026 and attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar, had reportedly been barred from flying in Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views — raising sharp questions about how he subsequently cleared security checks at a second and third airline before joining flydubai. According to media reports, Omani authorities identified Al Hamami as a security risk as early as 2024, yet the restriction apparently went undetected during his later hiring processes.

Background and Employment Trail

Al Hamami is an Omani citizen born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. He reportedly spent considerable time in Syria, where, according to media reports, he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideas before relocating to the UAE.

He was working as a co-pilot trainee with Oman Air in 2024 when he was allegedly found in possession of extremist material. He was reportedly permitted to continue in an administrative role but barred from flying after being classified as a security risk. A now-deleted LinkedIn profile reportedly indicated he had worked with Oman Air for seven years before leaving in February 2025.

He subsequently joined Royal Air Maroc in June 2025, leaving in January 2026, before taking up employment with flydubai — where he worked for approximately eight months, according to reports citing CNN.

Social Media Posts and Warning Signs

A now-deleted LinkedIn profile reportedly made two posts within roughly nine hours of the flydubai incident, both described as terror-related. One post reportedly contained a series of clips filmed inside the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max, with the person recording zooming in on an aircraft belonging to Israeli carrier El Al. The footage reportedly ended with an image of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda leader who succeeded Osama Bin Laden, alongside a photograph of Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who killed nine people in a 2009 suicide bombing targeting US personnel.

A second post reportedly featured an AI-generated image of Islam's three holiest sites in Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem, with a poem in the background that reportedly referred to rejecting humiliation, not fearing death, and defending dignity, according to CNN.

A separate CNN report described Al Hamami's now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) account as portraying him as 'deeply religious and misogynistic.' A former colleague also reportedly described him as a religious extremist, though investigations into his background and motives remain ongoing.

What Happened on Board

The flydubai Boeing 737 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September when Al Hamami allegedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, who was resisting the attack. At the time, the aircraft — cruising at approximately 34,000 feet — began descending at roughly 23,000 feet per minute, dropping to about 15,600 feet.

Captain Machchhar fought back, opening the cockpit door so that passengers and crew could overpower Al Hamami. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, assisted by two other pilots who were travelling on the flight. Reports have also suggested Al Hamami intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, though this is subject to ongoing investigation.

UAE Investigation and Official Response

UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of a specialised investigation team from the Public Prosecution to probe the incident, including any possible connection to terrorist activity, prior planning, or external direction, according to a statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UAE has also acknowledged and appreciated Saudi Arabian authorities for their cooperation and handling of the emergency landing.

Critical scrutiny is now focusing on the screening process that allowed Al Hamami — reportedly already flagged as a security risk in Oman — to obtain commercial flying positions at two subsequent airlines. As investigations deepen, the outcome could reshape airline background-check protocols across the Gulf region.