Flydubai flight incident: Omani co-pilot Hamam Alhamami identified in attack on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar

The Omani copilot accused of attacking Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv allegedly in a terrordriven attempt to bring down the aircraft has been identified as Hamam Alhamami according to sources cited by Al Arabiya EnglishAccording to a report by Al Arabiya English on Friday local time the Omani copilot had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about his extremist views which were allegedly influenced by an earlier stay in SyriaAlhamami left Oman after authorities prevented him from flying over concerns about his extremist views Al Arabiya reportedCiting sources it further reported that the Omani copilot had spent most of his time outside the country particularly in Syria where he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideas before travelling to the UAECNN meanwhile reported that the Omani copilot had been removed from a previous job at Omans national airline last year following concerns about his extremist viewsA regional diplomatic source familiar with the matter told CNN that the suspect was removed from training because of concerns that he held radical views but was subsequently given another role at the airlineAnother source told CNN that the suspect was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother and had spent several years of his life in the UAECNN reported that the suspect was transferred from Saudi Arabia where the aircraft landed to the UAE where he faces a terrorism investigationAn Israeli official told CNN that the suspect had worked for Flydubai for only eight months while a third source said he had previously worked for Royal Air MarocThe reports have also raised questions over how an Omani citizen was permitted to serve as a pilot on a flight to Tel Aviv given that Oman does not recognise IsraelAn Israeli official told CNN that several Israeli agencies including Shin Bet Mossad the military and the Transportation Ministry were investigating how the Omani pilot came to be part of the flight crewEarlier i24 News reported citing an Emirati source that leaflets and publications from Free Palestine groups along with other proPalestinian material were found among the belongings of the Omani copilotAccording to i24 News the pilot had repeatedly expressed support for the Palestinians and hostility towards Israel The report said this was being examined as part of a broader investigation into his alleged Islamic radicalisation and possible terrorist motivesMeanwhile The Jerusalem Post citing sources close to the investigation reported that the Omani copilot did not hold any second nationalityThe report also raised questions over how a national of a country without diplomatic relations with Israel was cleared to fly the routeThe security incident occurred on September 30 aboard a Flydubai flight operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv The Omani copilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit in an apparent terrordriven attempt to bring down the aircraftThe confrontation triggered a steep descent with the aircraft dropping approximately 16000 feet within two minutes before a hijacking distress signal was transmittedDespite sustaining severe injuries Captain Machchhar resisted the attacker and opened the cockpit doorFlight crew members and passengers then entered the cockpit and restrained the attacker allowing the crew to regain control of the aircraftThe aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk Saudi Arabia with all 180 occupants disembarking without injuryCaptain Machchhar who is now being hailed as a hero for his bravery managed to repel the copilot sufficiently to unlatch the cockpit door while two nonduty aviators who were on board helped assume control of the aircraft for its emergency landing in TabukThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever