New Delhi: Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot at the centre of the Flydubai flight FZ1073 cockpit incident, had earlier been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about his views before he returned to commercial aviation and joined the UAE-based airline. The revelation has raised fresh questions about how he was cleared to fly internationally and whether authorities shared information about the earlier restriction across jurisdictions. His restriction and his move to Flydubai are now under scrutiny.
It remains unclear whether Flydubai knew about the earlier concerns when it hired him or whether Omani authorities had shared that information with Emirati authorities, airlines or international aviation bodies.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the co-pilot had previously faced a flying restriction in Oman over concerns about his ideological views. Oman had barred him from flying over extremism concerns.
CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that al-Hammami had been removed from flight training at Oman Air over concerns about his views and reassigned to another role. He later worked for Royal Air Maroc, while an Israeli official said he had been employed by Flydubai for about eight months.
Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the co-pilot attacked and wounded Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft plunged more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds during its steepest descent before the injured captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower the co-pilot. Machchhar has since been moved to Abu Dhabi and is recovering.
As RNA Media reported earlier, Israeli investigators are participating in the UAE-led probe after the co-pilot was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the Emirates. Investigators are examining his background and motive and whether he acted alone or under outside direction.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said the co-pilot underwent “Islamist radicalization”, but has not publicly produced evidence supporting that assertion. UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash has described the incident as a “dangerous terrorist act”, while the formal investigation continues into the circumstances and motive.