Oman Banned Him From Flying Over Extremist Views — So How Did Flydubai Put Hamam al-Hammami in the Cockpit of a Jet to Israel?

In 60 seconds: The Wall Street Journal reports Oman barred flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami from flying over radical ideological views — and the airline hired him anyway. Days later, he allegedly attacked his captain and tried to send flight FZ1073 plunging toward Israel.

One country barred a pilot as a security risk. An airline hired him anyway — and put him on a jet to Tel Aviv. Read our earlier coverage: the original FZ1073 report.

What happened

On Wednesday, September 30, flydubai flight FZ1073 left Dubai for Tel Aviv with 174 passengers and eight crew. Mid-flight, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit. The jet shed more than 17,000 feet before the bloodied captain forced the cockpit door open, letting passengers and crew overpower the attacker. It diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

On Friday, the Journal's bombshell: Oman had banned al-Hammami, 29, over radical views. Flydubai hired him anyway.

Latest verified facts

The Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reports Oman barred him from flying over extremist views. As an Oman Air trainee in 2024, extremist materials were allegedly found in his possession (ABC, citing senior intelligence and law-enforcement officials). He kept an administrative role but was barred from the cockpit — yet flydubai hired him about a year ago, and it's unclear what vetting he faced or whether Oman warned anyone.

Al Arabiya says he spent time in Syria, where he may have been influenced by radical groups. Israel's Channel 12, citing investigators, says he was indoctrinated into al-Qaeda's ideology; deleted social accounts in his name reportedly showed a video of Israeli planes ending with photos of ex-al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

In UAE custody and cooperating, he indicated he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel, sources told ABC. The UAE's GCAA leads the probe; a spokesperson declined to address the Oman history "to avoid prejudging the outcome." Flydubai and Oman didn't respond to the Journal.

Why it matters

A pilot one aviation authority flagged as a security risk passed through another airline's hiring and ended up at the controls of a jet on one of the world's most politically charged routes. Analysts told the Journal he should have been caught before ever reaching the airport.

Did Oman warn anyone? What did flydubai's checks cover? Every airline with Gulf hiring pipelines will now ask the same.

Impact on the USA and the world

Netanyahu's office says Israel will now vet every pilot on incoming flights — including foreign airlines — with identities known in advance. His "whoever sent him will pay a heavy price" raises the stakes: Israel is investigating whether he acted at someone's direction.

Trump warned of "very hard" retaliation over early indications linking Iran — but an Israeli official told the AP there's no evidence connecting the attacker to Iran.

The UAE is shifting tone too: Gargash's "dangerous terrorist act" is the first time a senior Emirati official has publicly framed it that way. And flydubai has suspended its Dubai–Tel Aviv service — a symbol of normalization, paused in real time.

What happens next

The UAE probe is the center of gravity: flight-recorder analysis, formal charges, and whether Israel's request to question al-Hammami is granted. Alongside it, the vetting reckoning — whether Oman shared its ban, and what flydubai's background checks actually covered.

Was he sent? This story is developing. Updates will follow as confirmed.

Related coverage:
'Mayday — We Need Ambulances': the denied landing
"Oh, They'll Be Hit Very Hard": Trump links Iran to the attack
'Terrorist Activity or Intent': UAE opens formal probe