Who is Hamam al-Hammami? What we know about Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking Smit Machchhar

The co-pilot accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit of a Flydubai flight has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national.According to CNN, an Israeli official and Saudi state media have also confirmed his identity. Al-Hammami is now in the UAE as authorities investigate the incident, which has been treated as a possible act of terrorism.But his identity is only one part of the story. Reports about his earlier career have raised questions about his time at Oman Air and how he later ended up flying commercial passengers.Who is Hamam al-Hammami?CNN reported that al-Hammami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. He is also said to have spent a significant amount of time outside Oman, including in Syria.A LinkedIn profile in his name, which has since been deleted, said he worked at Oman Air for around seven years and left in February 2025. It also listed a three-year distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University. The university confirmed to CNN that a man with the same name completed the course and graduated in 2023.He later reportedly worked for Royal Air Maroc before joining Flydubai. According to an Israeli official cited by CNN, he had been with Flydubai for about eight months.Why was he reportedly flagged at Oman Air?This is the part of his background that has drawn the most attention.The Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman Air had stopped al-Hammami from flying after concerns were raised about alleged extremist views. ABC News, citing intelligence and law-enforcement officials, reported that extremist material was found in his possession while he was training as a co-pilot.The details aren't entirely consistent across reports, though.CNN reported that sources said he had been removed from flight training because of concerns about his views. ABC News placed the discovery of the alleged material in 2024, while other reporting has given different timelines. The nature of the material and exactly what led to the decision remain unclear in the reports that have been made public.That has left investigators looking into a key question: how did al-Hammami go from facing concerns during his earlier aviation career to eventually working as a commercial co-pilot?What happened on the Flydubai flight?The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board.According to reports, al-Hammami attacked and stabbed Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft then went into a steep descent.Despite being injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew members then helped restrain the attacker, while two off-duty pilots assisted with taking control of the aircraft.The plane eventually made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.Machchhar later spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed and described what happened inside the cockpit.“I was fighting for my life,” he said during the video call. He also explained that he realised the aircraft was going down and knew he had to get the cockpit door open because of the passengers on board.“I could not let the other passengers die,” he said.What happens next?Authorities in the UAE and Israel are investigating the attack, including al-Hammami's background and what may have led to the incident.Questions are also being raised about his earlier employment history and the security checks he underwent before joining Flydubai. Officials have referred to the incident in terrorism-related terms, but investigators are still examining the circumstances, including the alleged motive and any possible affiliations.For now, several details about al-Hammami's background remain unclear. The investigation is expected to establish what happened before he entered the cockpit and how the concerns reportedly raised during his earlier aviation career were handled.Get the latest movie news, reviews, and celebrity updates. Download the TOI App.