Flydubai Co Pilot Flagged for Extremism Before Flight FZ1073 Attack

Flydubai First Officer Hamam al-Hammami was flagged for security concerns and grounded over extremist views by Oman Air before being hired by Flydubai, according to reports by One Mile at a Time and Simple Flying citing the Wall Street Journal. On Wednesday, the Omani national allegedly attacked his captain aboard Flydubai flight FZ-1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv in an attempted terror attack, as reported by Paddley Too and Sahara Reporters. [1][2][4][6][7]

During the flight, which carried nearly 200 people, the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, One Mile at a Time reported. Simple Flying reported that a cockpit axe was used in the assault. The injured captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and assist in overpowering the assailant, according to One Mile at a Time. [2][4]

Flydubai is a government-owned Emirati airline based at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. The carrier operates flights to 131 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. [9]

The Wall Street Journal and ABC News reported that al-Hammami had previously been banned from flying in Oman due to radicalization concerns, according to Paddley Too and One Mile at a Time. Questions remain regarding how the first officer passed screening protocols to fly commercial aircraft following his dismissal in Oman, as noted by The Statesman. [1][2][7]