Investigations into a dramatic mid-air assault aboard a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight have revealed that the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain had undergone alleged extremist radicalisation linked to al-Qaeda ideology.
The co-pilot, identified as Hamam Alhamami, allegedly launched an attack inside the cockpit on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. According to investigative sources, Alhamami had been indoctrinated into al-Qaeda’s ideology through meetings with unidentified religious figures. Concerns over his extremist views—reportedly formed during an extended stay in Syria—had previously led Omani authorities to bar him from flying in his home country before he relocated to the UAE.
The mid-air confrontation triggered a rapid descent, with the aircraft dropping approximately 16,000 feet in just two minutes while sending out a hijacking distress signal. Despite sustaining severe injuries, Captain Machchhar successfully fought off the assailant and unlocked the cockpit door. Cabin crew and passengers intervened immediately to restrain Alhamami, enabling the flight crew to stabilize the aircraft.
Multinational law enforcement agencies continue to probe Alhamami’s background, radicalisation pathway, and potential network connections.