Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami: What we know about the alleged attacker?

The flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and allegedly attempted to crash a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on September 30, 2026, has been identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, according to a U.S. media report.

“The alleged attacker is an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami,” the Wall Street Journal report said. He had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about his extremist views, multiple media outlets have reported.

Who is Hamam al-Hammami

Hamam al-Hammami was born to an Omani father and a Syrian mother, according to the WSJ report. Scrutiny into the alleged assailant al-Hammami and his motives has intensified after the drama aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv route that officials say narrowly avoided catastrophe.

Al-Hammami was reportedly barred from flying previously by Omani authorities for his radical ideological views, the WSJ reported, quoting people familiar with the matter. The co-pilot was subsequently hired by the United Arab Emirates-based airline. It was not immediately clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired in the Emirates.

Al Arabiya, citing an informed source, reported that Omani authorities determined that the co-pilot held extremist views. The broadcaster said he had also spent time in Syria, raising concerns he may have been influenced by radical groups there.

ABC News, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation, reported the suspect had allegedly been found in possession of extremist materials while he was a trainee.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and had attempted to crash the plane.

A major aviation disaster was averted after ‌passengers and crew of on flydubai flight FZ1073 subdued the co-pilot, who had stabbed captain Machchhar in what was an apparent attempt to crash the plane. The jet, with 174 people on board, plunged nearly 14,000 ft (4,267 m) in less than 30 seconds in the incident.

Israeli officials to question al-Hammami

The co-pilot was detained by Saudi Arabian authorities after the flight landed at the Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot was transferred on Thursday (October 1, 2026) to the UAE, where the source said Israeli officials were expected to question him.

An Israeli government official told Reuters that ⁠Israeli investigators would take part in the UAE-led investigation alongside Emirati authorities, seeking to determine what happened and examine the suspect’s motives and background. But which Israeli agency or authority would take part in the questioning is yet to be known.

Meanwhile, Mr. Machchhar is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE. He spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone, recounting the terrifying moments after being attacked. However, he did not disclose what triggered the attack on him or the motive of the co-pilot.

(With inputs from Agencies)