Hamam al-Hammami

Hamam al-Hammami
Born	Hamam al-Hammami c. 1997 United Arab Emirates
Nationality	Omani
Citizenship	Oman
Education	Buckinghamshire New University (aviation management, 2023)
Occupation	Airline pilot (former co-pilot)
Years active	2018–2026
Employer	Flydubai (2026)
Known for	Perpetrator of the Flydubai Flight 1073 cockpit attack
Criminal charge(s)	Terrorism-related offenses (under investigation in the UAE)
Criminal status	In custody
Parent(s)	Omani father, Syrian mother

Hamam al-Hammami (Arabic: همام الحمامي; born c. 1997) is an Omani national and former commercial airline pilot who was the co-pilot on Flydubai Flight 1073 on 30 September 2026. He is accused of stabbing the flight's captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, in an attempt to take control of the aircraft and crash it in Israel. The incident, which occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, resulted in an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and has been described by UAE officials as a "terrorist act."

Early life and education

Al-Hammami was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother, and he spent several years of his life in the UAE. He held only Omani citizenship and did not possess a second nationality.

He completed a three-year distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in England, graduating in 2023. The university confirmed that a man with the same name completed the course.

Aviation career

Oman Air (c. 2018–2025)

Al-Hammami worked at Oman Air, Oman's national carrier, for approximately seven years, leaving in February 2025. During his time there, he was a co-pilot trainee. In 2024, he was removed from flight training after concerns arose about his alleged radical views, and he was subsequently assigned an administrative role within the airline.

Reports indicate that the concerns stemmed from the discovery of extremist materials in his possession during his training period. According to ABC News, citing intelligence and law-enforcement officials, extremist material was found while he was a trainee co-pilot in 2024. Fox News, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Oman Air grounded him after discovering that he had been visiting radical Islamic websites. The Wall Street Journal separately reported that Oman had banned him from flying over concerns that he had adopted radical ideological views.

Royal Air Maroc (2025–2026)

After leaving Oman Air, al-Hammami joined Royal Air Maroc, Morocco's national carrier, in June 2025. He departed from the airline in January 2026, according to a now-deleted LinkedIn profile bearing his name.

Flydubai (2026)

Al-Hammami was hired by Flydubai, a Dubai-based low-cost carrier, and had been working there for approximately eight months before the incident. An Israeli official confirmed his tenure with the airline to CNN.

His hiring by Flydubai despite the earlier security concerns at Oman Air has raised significant questions about background checks and the sharing of security information between airlines and countries. The Wall Street Journal reported that it was not clear whether Oman had shared information about its concerns with the UAE or Flydubai.

Flydubai Flight 1073 incident

Main article: Flydubai Flight 1073

On 30 September 2026, al-Hammami was serving as co-pilot on Flydubai Flight 1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport with 174 people on board. During the flight, he allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit with a knife, inflicting serious injuries.

The attack caused the aircraft to enter a steep descent, dropping approximately 16,000 feet within two minutes. A hijacking distress signal was transmitted during the struggle. Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and restrain al-Hammami. Two off-duty pilots travelling aboard the flight assisted in regaining control of the aircraft.

The plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk Regional Airport in Saudi Arabia. All 180 occupants disembarked safely. Al-Hammami was arrested by Saudi authorities upon landing.

Alleged radicalization and motives

Extremist materials and online activity

According to investigators, al-Hammami had undergone a process of indoctrination into "al-Qaeda's ideology" and had met unspecified religious figures during his radicalization. Israel's Channel 12 reported these findings, which form part of the ongoing investigation.

Two posts appeared on a LinkedIn profile bearing his name approximately nine hours after the incident. The first post featured clips filmed in the cockpits of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, including footage geolocated to Dubai International Airport showing an El Al aircraft. The video ended with photos of Ayman al-Zawahiri, who led al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, a Jordanian double agent who killed seven CIA officers in a 2009 suicide bombing. The second post was an AI-generated image of Islam's three holiest sites, accompanied by a poem about rejecting humiliation and not fearing death.

CNN analysed nearly 3,000 deleted Twitter posts attributed to al-Hammami, primarily from 2021–2022, which showed frequent references to religious issues and strict views about women. In a 2022 post, he stated that his mother had difficulty finding a wife for him because he required his future wife to wear a niqab and quit working after marriage. Other posts criticized mixed-gender work environments.

Time in Syria

Al Arabiya English reported that al-Hammami spent much of his time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideas before moving to the UAE. This period is being examined as part of the investigation into his radicalization.

Stated intent

According to ABC News, citing sources familiar with the investigation, al-Hammami has cooperated with investigators and stated that he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect was believed to have undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination."

Investigation

UAE-led probe

The United Arab Emirates attorney-general ordered the formation of an investigation team to probe the incident, including whether it was linked to terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction from others. Emirati judicial authorities asserted jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag.

Transfer of custody

Al-Hammami was initially detained and questioned by Saudi authorities after the emergency landing in Tabuk. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry confirmed that the diversion was caused by the co-pilot attacking the captain. After both pilots received medical clearance, they were flown to Abu Dhabi accompanied by Emirati security personnel.

Saudi Arabia subsequently handed over al-Hammami to the UAE, where he faces a terrorism investigation. Israeli investigators were expected to question him as part of the UAE-led probe.

Questions over security clearance

The incident has raised significant questions about how al-Hammami was able to secure employment with Flydubai and be assigned to a flight to Israel despite the earlier security concerns at Oman Air. Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, are investigating how an Omani citizen from a country that does not recognise Israel became part of the crew on a Tel Aviv-bound flight.

Shin Bet chief David Zini had reportedly warned for months that security arrangements on flights arriving from the UAE were insufficient. The agency had been involved in a dispute with Israeli airlines over security measures on UAE routes in the weeks preceding the incident.

Weapon question

A key unanswered question in the investigation is how a knife or sharp object was brought into the cockpit. Under post-9/11 aviation security rules, bladed instruments are tightly controlled in carry-on baggage and generally not permitted in the cockpit. Pilots undergo security screening and are generally subject to the same restrictions as passengers regarding weapons.

Legal proceedings

As of October 2026, al-Hammami was in UAE custody and facing a terrorism investigation. He had not been formally charged, and no court had ruled on the allegations against him. UAE authorities stated that their investigation would examine the circumstances and motives behind the attack, including whether it involved terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction from others.

Aftermath and reactions

Reactions

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash described the incident as a "terrorist act," praising Captain Smit Machchhar for showing "courage and responsibility" in the face of what he called a "dangerous terrorist act." Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described it as a "jihadist terrorist attack" and said the suspect intended to crash the aircraft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would "get to the root of this attacker" and that investigators would seek to determine the circumstances behind the incident and whether there was any wider involvement. However, no direct link to Iran or any other organisation had been established at the time of reporting.

Aviation security implications

The incident has prompted scrutiny of aviation security procedures, particularly regarding background checks for pilots and the sharing of security information between airlines and countries. The revelations about al-Hammami's earlier removal from flight training at Oman Air over extremist concerns have raised questions about how he was subsequently hired by Flydubai and cleared to operate an international route between the UAE and Israel.

See also

• Flydubai Flight 1073
• Smit Machchhar
• Terrorism in aviation