Hamam al-Hammami, the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack an Israel-bound flight in a violent mid-air attack, was previously banned from flying by Omani authorities due to concerns over radicalization, according to reports.
The 29-year-old Omani national, who is currently being held in Abu Dhabi, allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar using an emergency crash axe during a Wednesday flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The assault triggered a terrifying mid-air struggle, during which the aircraft plummeted thousands of feet before passengers intervened to help subdue the co-pilot.
New details have emerged revealing that al-Hammami was previously dismissed from Oman Air after radical ideology was discovered on his mobile phone. Despite being barred from the aviation sector in his home country, he was subsequently hired by the Dubai-based Flydubai, where he was tasked with flying the sensitive route between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Beyond his professional history, a trail of disturbing online activity has come to light. Archived social media posts from an X account bearing his name, “@PilotHamam,” reveal a history of extreme misogyny and violent rhetoric. In 2022, while studying for a distance-learning degree in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University, the user posted that women should be “stomped on.”
In response to an exchange regarding marital infidelity, the account stated: “I’d stomp on your head, wipe the floor with you, make you an example to others and then divorce you.” In another instance, the user justified physical violence against women by comparing it to geopolitical conflict, writing, “He gave her a pre-emptive slap so she would redefine her boundaries, just as Russia slapped Ukraine to adjust its borders.”
The account, which identified the user as a civilian pilot living in Muscat, also featured homophobic remarks and boasted about soliciting nude images from women under false pretenses. The account has since been deleted.
Following the mid-air attack, reports indicate that al-Hammami’s professional profile was updated with images of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the late leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly characterized the incident as a direct result of “Islamist radicalisation.”
The Emirati attorney general confirmed that al-Hammami used an emergency crash axe to assault the captain and attempt to seize control of the flight’s systems. The resulting instability caused the plane to drop rapidly, leading crew members to open the cockpit door to allow passengers to assist in restraining the attacker. The flight was ultimately diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Buckinghamshire New University confirmed al-Hammami was a distance-learning student, but clarified he did not undergo any pilot training at the institution. Investigations into how he secured a position with a major carrier despite his prior ban are now underway.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
