Who is Hamam al Hammami? Omani co-pilot who attacked Indian pilot aboard flydubai flight; what we know so far
PTC News Desk: The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a Flydubai flight has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami. According to reports, he had previously undergone pilot training with Oman Air but was moved to desk duties after government surveillance detected visits to radical websites before later joining Flydubai without formal vetting by the Omani government.
According to media reports, the Omani government had earlier raised concerns about the pilot’s activities after surveillance showed that he had visited radical websites during his initial pilot training.
Oman Air reportedly removed him from flying duties and assigned him to an office role. He later left the airline, reportedly around 2024-25.
Al Arabiya English, citing sources, reported that al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman because of concerns over alleged extremist views, which were reportedly linked to an earlier stay in Syria.
Al-Qaida leader's pic, Syrian mother
A LinkedIn profile under the name Hamam al-Hammami says he worked for Oman Air for seven years before joining Royal Air Maroc in June 2025. He reportedly left the Moroccan airline in January 2026. However, India Today said it could not independently confirm whether the profile belonged to the co-pilot involved in the September 30 incident.
The timeline broadly matches his reported career history. A former colleague told Israel’s Channel 16 that al-Hammami joined flydubai about eight months before the incident, suggesting he started around February 2026.
The colleague described him as deeply religious and said he prayed frequently and avoided shaking hands with women. The Times of Israel also reported similar details.
During his time at Oman Air, al-Hammami reportedly came under scrutiny over his alleged extremist views and visits to radical websites. After being moved to a desk position, he eventually left the airline.
A video reportedly recorded inside an Oman Air cockpit shows flight number OMA624 and is dated October 11, 2023, when he was believed to be working for the airline. The video reportedly ends with images of former al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, who carried out a 2009 suicide bombing that killed nine people, including seven CIA personnel.
One of the major issues now being examined is the pilot’s alleged online and social media activity and whether it had any connection to the September 30 incident.
The incident
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying more than 170 passengers when the incident was reported inside the cockpit. According to reports, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot as the aircraft was flying over Saudi Arabia. The plane subsequently lost a significant amount of altitude before passengers and other crew members intervened and helped regain control of the aircraft.
Machchhar, who suffered serious injuries, reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and overpower the attacker. The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk, where the injured crew members were taken to hospital. Machchhar has since been reported to be in stable condition.
A fellow pilot has reportedly described the Omani co-pilot as a “religious extremist”, claiming that he prayed frequently and refused to shake hands with women. Investigators are expected to examine the co-pilot's background, conduct and possible motive before reaching any conclusions.
- PTC NEWS
