New York, 3 October

An Omani citizen, Hamam al-Hammami, has been identified as the flydubai co-pilot who attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and allegedly attempted to take control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight this week, according to US media reports.

Al-Hammami was reportedly barred from flying previously in Oman over concerns about his radical ideological views, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, quoting people familiar with the matter.

On flydubai flight FZ1073, he attacked Machchhar with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, seriously injuring him on Wednesday. The captain fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to overpower the attacker.

The motive for the attack remains unclear.

The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said on Saturday it was probing whether the incident was linked to any "terrorist activity or purpose".

Several other news publications, including CNN, identified Al-Hammani by name. But officials have not yet disclosed his identity.

The flight, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet before safely landing by two reserved pilots at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk city, where al-Hammami was taken into custody.

"The alleged attacker is an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami," the WSJ report said.

CNN, citing two sources and an Israeli official, identified the pilot as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami. He was born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother and has spent several years of his life in the UAE, it said.

CNN cited another source, a regional diplomat, saying al-Hammami was removed from flight training because of concerns over his radical views and was subsequently given another role at Oman's national airline.

It was not immediately clear to what extent he was vetted before being hired by the UAE-based airline flydubai. News reports suggest he had been working for the airline for about eight months.

Al-Hammami completed a three-year distance-learning course in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK and graduated in 2023, the BBC reported, quoting the university. The university said he did not undergo any pilot training at the institution.

The UAE said on Saturday that investigations were under way to determine the full circumstances and motive of the incident, including whether it was linked to any "terrorist activity or purpose", according to the state-run WAM news agency.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, according to WAM.

On Friday, Machchhar spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone, recounting the terrifying moments after being attacked. He said he was fighting for his life but was determined not to let others die.

Machchhar, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE, was hailed as a "true hero" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an interview with CNN on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said the injured pilot, passengers and other crew members had "managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster".

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Netanyahu said the attacker shouted "Kill me, kill me!" after being subdued on the flight.

Netanyahu said the remark suggested the attacker was suicidal and that it appeared he had intended to bring down the plane. He also said the attacker had "undergone Islamist radical indoctrination".

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday that an Israeli woman, Tali Manes, raised the alarm after hearing a commotion from the cockpit.

Her husband, Zvika, and three other men then entered the cockpit after Captain Machchhar managed to open the door despite his injuries, BBC reported.

Machchhar was taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

“Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care and is recovering well. We are in touch with his family and local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery. Our thanks to the UAE gov. for their care. We join well-wishers in praying for his good health,” the Indian Embassy in the UAE said in a social media statement on Saturday.