Questions over airline security and pilot vetting have intensified after authorities revealed that the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain during an Israel-bound flight had previously been barred from flying for Oman’s national airline over concerns about alleged extremist views.

The co-pilot, identified by people familiar with the investigation as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe during Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on September 30.

The incident sent the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into a dramatic descent of more than 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds before passengers and crew intervened. The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with 182 people aboard.

The United Arab Emirates has described the incident as a terrorist attack, although investigators are still working to determine the motive and whether the co-pilot had any connection to an extremist organization.

Co-Pilot Had Reportedly Been Removed From Flying Duties

According to officials and people familiar with the investigation, al-Hammami had previously been prevented from flying for Oman Air because of concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

He was reportedly transferred to an administrative position at the airline instead.

The precise nature of the concerns surrounding his alleged views has not been publicly disclosed, and authorities have not established whether those concerns were connected to the subsequent incident aboard the Flydubai aircraft.

The revelation has nevertheless raised serious questions about how he was later able to obtain employment with Flydubai and operate a commercial flight carrying hundreds of passengers.

A regional official and another person familiar with the matter said al-Hammami was later employed by Flydubai after leaving Oman Air.

The Gulf diplomat involved in the investigation said the co-pilot underwent standard security checks before being hired. However, questions remain about whether those checks went beyond conventional criminal-record screening and adequately examined previous security concerns.

Attack Nearly Sent the Plane Crashing

The incident occurred while the Flydubai aircraft was travelling from Dubai toward Israel.

According to investigators and officials, al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit with an emergency crash axe.

The attack seriously injured the captain and was followed by a sudden loss of control.

The aircraft descended more than 16,000 feet in approximately 30 seconds, placing enormous pressure on the aircraft and everyone aboard.

The captain, despite being wounded, managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers then rushed toward the cockpit and helped overpower the co-pilot.

At least several passengers became involved in restraining him, while others attempted to stabilize the aircraft.

Two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the plane eventually took control and helped land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

The captain and co-pilot were subsequently taken to the United Arab Emirates for treatment.

Passengers Helped Prevent a Catastrophe

Passengers played a critical role in the emergency after realizing something had gone seriously wrong in the cockpit.

One passenger reportedly helped pull the co-pilot away from the controls after entering the cockpit.

Other passengers restrained him using available materials, while a doctor aboard the flight treated the injured captain.

The intervention allowed the aircraft to be stabilized until trained pilots could assume control.

The plane had experienced an extremely rapid descent, creating a potentially catastrophic situation for everyone aboard.

Aviation experts have since highlighted the extraordinary forces placed on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 during the episode and the fact that the aircraft survived the descent.

The emergency landing in Saudi Arabia brought the immediate crisis to an end.

Investigation Focuses on Possible Motive

The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the incident.

Authorities have characterized the attack as an attempted terrorist operation, but important questions remain unanswered.

Investigators are examining whether al-Hammami acted alone or had any connection to an extremist organization.

Security agencies from several countries are reportedly assisting with the investigation, including agencies from the United States and other Western countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot had undergone what he described as “Islamist radicalization” and was suicidal, but he has not publicly provided evidence supporting those claims.

Other officials have emphasized that the investigation into the motive remains ongoing.

There has also been no confirmed evidence publicly establishing that another country or organization directed the attack.

Questions Over Flydubai’s Recruitment Process

The revelation about al-Hammami’s previous employment history has put Flydubai’s recruitment and security procedures under increased scrutiny.

The airline has declined to comment on specific aspects of the investigation, saying there are many unanswered questions at this stage.

The key issue for investigators is whether the concerns that led Oman Air to remove al-Hammami from flying duties were communicated to Flydubai or other relevant authorities.

It is also unclear whether the previous concerns were formally recorded in a system accessible to the airline during its recruitment process.

The Gulf diplomat said al-Hammami underwent standard security checks before joining Flydubai. However, authorities are examining whether those checks were sufficiently comprehensive.

Israel Faces Questions Over Pilot Screening

The incident has also raised questions about how the co-pilot was permitted to operate a flight into Israel.

Oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and Israeli authorities have historically maintained strict security procedures concerning airline personnel from countries without diplomatic ties.

Israeli officials have said arrangements exist with foreign airlines to prevent pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from operating flights into the country.

Yet al-Hammami was able to serve as co-pilot on the Flydubai flight.

The development has prompted Israeli authorities to review their screening procedures for foreign pilots.

The government has indicated that security checks on pilots flying into Israel will be strengthened following the incident.

Passenger and Crew Information Was Shared Before the Flight

Another issue under examination is the information available to Israeli authorities before the aircraft departed.

Under Israeli regulations, airlines operating flights to the country are required to provide information about passengers and crew members before departure.

That information can include names and nationalities and is made available to Israeli security agencies.

Authorities therefore had information about the flight crew before the aircraft arrived.

The investigation will determine how that information was assessed and whether any warning concerning the co-pilot was available to Israeli authorities.

The episode has highlighted the importance of sharing security information between airlines, aviation regulators and national security agencies.

Co-Pilot Had Other Aviation Connections

Investigators are also examining al-Hammami’s professional and educational background.

Royal Air Maroc confirmed that he completed a three-month theoretical training programme with the Moroccan airline in 2025 as part of its pre-employment process.

His application for employment was ultimately not selected.

He also completed a distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in Britain. The university said he did not undertake pilot training there.

Other details about his background have emerged as investigators attempt to establish his movements, employment history and possible contacts.

His social media account was reportedly deleted on the day of the incident, adding another detail investigators may examine as they reconstruct his activities before the flight.

No Confirmed Link to Extremist Group

Despite the allegations surrounding the co-pilot’s previous employment, authorities have not publicly established that he was a member of an extremist organization.

The investigation is examining whether he acted independently or had assistance or connections elsewhere.

Israeli officials have said they have not identified Iranian involvement in the incident.

The lack of a confirmed organizational connection means that investigators must still establish what motivated the alleged attack and whether the co-pilot’s previous security concerns were related to his actions aboard the aircraft.

Aviation Security Under Renewed Scrutiny

The incident is likely to prompt renewed debate about how airlines assess pilots for security risks.

Commercial pilots undergo medical examinations, licensing procedures and various background checks. Airlines and aviation authorities also maintain security procedures for personnel with access to restricted areas and aircraft.

However, requirements differ between jurisdictions and airlines.

The case demonstrates the difficulty of assessing potential security threats when concerns raised by one employer or country may not automatically become known to another airline or aviation authority.

Investigators will therefore be looking at the information available about al-Hammami before he joined Flydubai and determining whether any warning signs should have prevented him from operating commercial flights.

Israel Plans Tougher Checks on Pilots

The Israeli government has said it will strengthen security screening for pilots arriving in the country.

The move follows growing concerns about how an Omani national who was reportedly subject to previous security concerns was able to serve as co-pilot on a flight carrying mostly Israeli passengers.

The review is expected to examine existing agreements between Israel and international airlines as well as the procedures used to assess foreign flight crews.

The incident has demonstrated that passenger screening alone cannot address every aviation security threat.

Crew members with direct access to aircraft controls represent another critical part of aviation security, particularly on international routes involving countries with heightened security concerns.

Investigation Continues

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 ultimately reached safety after passengers, crew members and off-duty pilots worked together to regain control of the aircraft.

But the incident has raised questions that extend well beyond the events inside the cockpit.

Investigators must determine why the co-pilot was reportedly removed from flying duties in Oman, whether those concerns were communicated to Flydubai, how he passed the airline’s recruitment checks and why he was permitted to operate a flight to Israel.

Authorities must also establish his motive and determine whether he acted alone.

Until those questions are answered, the incident remains both an investigation into an alleged attempted attack and a major test of the international systems used to vet airline personnel and protect commercial aviation.