Flydubai Co-pilot Involved in Attack Was Previously Dismissed Over Alleged Extremism

The co-pilot suspected of attacking a fellow pilot on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was dismissed from his position at an Omani national airline last year. The dismissal was reportedly due to concerns regarding alleged extremist views, according to two sources familiar with the matter and Israeli officials, as reported by CNN on Sunday.

The co-pilot involved in the attack has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Saudi Arabian state media also identified the perpetrator as al-Hammami. One source added that he was born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to an Omani father and a Syrian mother, and has spent much of his life in the UAE.

Meanwhile, the UAE Attorney General stated that the co-pilot attacked his colleague using an axe and subsequently attempted to seize control of the aircraft in an act described as a “terrorist action.” It is noted that emergency axes for crash situations are mandatory equipment on most passenger aircraft.

A LinkedIn profile under the name Hamam al-Hammami listed a seven-year work history with Oman Air, which ended in February 2025. He subsequently joined the Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc in June 2025, before leaving in January 2026. However, the LinkedIn page did not list Flydubai. One source confirmed that the profile belonged to the Flydubai pilot involved in the incident, though the profile has since been deleted. CNN has contacted LinkedIn for a response.

Furthermore, a second source, a diplomat from the region, told CNN that the suspect was removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns regarding his radical views, though he was later assigned a different role within the Omani national carrier. Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the suspect is believed to have undergone “radical Islamic indoctrination.”

Israeli officials noted that al-Hammami had only been working for Flydubai for eight months. A fourth source mentioned that the suspect had also previously worked for Royal Air Maroc. In a statement to AP, Royal Air Maroc confirmed that the individual underwent three months of training with the airline in 2025 as part of a pre-employment process, but was not selected for permanent employment.

These findings are expected to trigger concerns regarding the importance of background checks during the recruitment process within the aviation industry. CNN has reached out to Oman Air and the Dubai government media office for comment. Flydubai has stated it cannot comment while the incident remains under investigation.