UAE co-pilot linked to extremism ordered barred by Oman Air

A 29-year-old Omani national has been identified as the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain on a flight bound for Tel Aviv earlier this week. Authorities allege he seized the cockpit's crash axe and struck Capt. Smit Machchhar, incapacitating him before the plane plunged into emergency landing conditions until passengers regained control. The United Arab Emirates, leading the probe into FlyDubai Flight 1073, confirmed the co-pilot was Hamam al-Hammami according to a Middle Eastern source speaking with Fox News.

This same source revealed that Oman Air barred al-Hammami from flying in 2024 due to concerns over his extremist views. He allegedly moved to Dubai later that year without FlyDubai checking his status with his home carrier first. Al-Hammami spent significant time outside Oman, including years living with his mother, who is from Syria.

Investigators are now focused on a single question: did al-Hammami act as a lone wolf or does he have ties to extremist groups? A Gulf diplomat told The Associated Press that officials are working through this link right now. Meanwhile, reports indicate the UAE barred him specifically because of fears regarding radicalization.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled the event an act of terrorism on Friday. He stated the attacker had undergone Islamic radicalization and came intending to crash the passengers on board. These claims were reported by The Wall Street Journal based on his comments.

The situation remains fluid as details emerge. Passengers played a decisive role in surviving the ordeal after the initial assault. This is a developing story, so readers should check back for further updates. Fox News Digital's Brittany Miller contributed to this report.