The flydubai co-pilot involved in a serious in-flight incident has reportedly confessed to investigators that he intended to crash the aircraft and expressed no fear of death. This information emerged following an interrogation in Saudi Arabia, according to a source familiar with the situation. The co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, has since been transferred to the UAE for further questioning.

During the flight, which was carrying over 170 passengers, Hammami allegedly assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe while attempting to seize control of the plane. Fortunately, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, permitting crew members and passengers to stop the attack. The UAE attorney general announced that the assault may be classified as a terrorist act, leading to investigations by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel.

The severity of the co-pilot’s actions has prompted an urgent inquiry into any potential links to extremist groups or outside influences. As authorities delve deeper, they aim to ascertain whether Hammami’s motivations may have stemmed from radicalisation.

Investigation into Radicalisation and Background

Hammami was born to an Omani father and a Syrian mother and had resided in Dubai for several years. Additionally, he spent time in Syria amid the ongoing civil conflict, which has raised suspicions regarding his potential radicalisation during that period. Investigators are exploring whether he became influenced by the extremist factions fighting against the Assad regime in Syria.

His online activity is under scrutiny, with over 3,000 screenshots of posts from his deleted social media account accessible via the Internet Archive. Some of these posts display his opposition to women participating in the workforce and favour religious ideals such as veiling for women. Notably, a post from December 2021 detailed his efforts to make contact with Saudi women by creating a fake account portraying himself as Syrian or Lebanese.

Furthermore, Hammami made statements regarding personal life rules, including a stipulation that his wife would not have a job. These revelations have added further layers to the investigation as authorities seek to understand any psychological or ideological factors at play.

Hiring Process and Previous Employment Issues

Hammami’s employment history has also come under examination. After being removed from flying duties with Oman Air, he sought opportunities at other airlines, including an attempt to join Royal Air Maroc in 2025. He ultimately secured a position with flydubai in February this year. It is reported that the UAE normally conducts comprehensive security checks when recruiting pilots. However, the particular vetting processes applied to Hammami prior to his hire remain unclear.

Sources indicate that Oman would have willingly shared relevant information regarding Hammami if requested, but they did not receive any inquiries from other countries concerning his vetting for a new role. The ongoing investigation has led both the UAE and flydubai to refrain from commenting publicly on the matter.

In addition to his recent employment, Hammami completed a remote-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK. The circumstances surrounding his earlier ban from flying have raised significant questions about how he was eventually permitted to return to the cockpit and obtain work with another airline after the deradicalisation programme.

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