Omani Co-Pilot Accused of Attempting Hijack of Israel-Bound Flight

<p>The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack an Israel-bound passenger plane began radicalizing as a student in Melbourne, Australia, where he associated with individuals linked to an Islamic center reportedly backed by a group connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, according to United Arab Emirates investigators.</p><p>The UAE’s attorney general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, stated that the 29-year-old suspect had developed extremist views over several years before attempting to take control of FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 on September 30. Investigators noted that he had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and airport before attempting to execute the plan on his third trip; it is unusual that Israel and Oman do not have normalized relations, which raises questions about how the Omani national was permitted to fly to Israel.</p><p>According to the UAE attorney general, the suspect's radicalization began in 2017. Investigators indicated that he was influenced by takfiri ideology, which can justify violence against those deemed apostates, through extremist literature and online materials that glorify terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.</p><p>The suspect, identified as Hammam al-Hammami, attended a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology while studying mechanical engineering. He reportedly became acquainted with individuals associated with an Islamic center known as My Centre, as per the UAE’s account of his statements.</p><p>Al-Hammami allegedly informed investigators that the center was managed by a Lebanese individual known as Abu Hamza and received support from an association linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. The UAE statement did not provide additional details about the association, and the investigation is ongoing.</p><p>The Trump administration designated the Brotherhood’s Lebanese branch a foreign terrorist organization in January and placed its Egyptian and Jordanian branches on the Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, citing support for Hamas.</p><p>In August, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee chaired by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) held a hearing on the Brotherhood’s network in the U.S., which was boycotted by all of the panel’s Democrats.</p><p>The aircraft was carrying 174 people, most of whom were Israeli passengers, when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe inside the cockpit. The captain resisted, while reserve pilots traveling aboard the aircraft for the return journey intervened with assistance from a cabin crew member and passengers.</p><p>The plane descended thousands of feet during the confrontation before the reserve pilot regained control and diverted it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The captain sustained head injuries consistent with an attack using an emergency axe, according to investigators.</p><p>Al-Hammami reportedly told investigators that the September 11, 2001 attacks inspired his ambition to carry out a similar operation using an aircraft. The attorney general stated that this ambition was linked to his decision to pursue a career in aviation. Investigators noted that he prepared for the attack by increasing his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing with a private coach. The UAE investigation is also examining how the suspect was hired by FlyDubai despite his alleged development of extremist beliefs years earlier.</p><p>According to the attorney general, al-Hammami worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025, and moved to FlyDubai in January 2026. Investigators confirmed that he held a pilot’s license, provided a certificate of good conduct, and completed the required professional and security checks. None of these procedures indicated the suspect’s extremist views or an intention to carry out a terrorist plot, the attorney general stated.</p><p>The suspect reportedly confessed to planning and attempting to carry out the operation in the presence of his lawyer and with the legally required safeguards in place. He claimed to have acted alone, but authorities are continuing to investigate possible accomplices or other connections.</p><p>The investigation also includes a review of recordings, technical reports, and other evidence. Saudi authorities have initiated a separate safety investigation into the incident.</p><p>The incident has raised questions about whether warning signs of the suspect’s radicalization were detected or shared among relevant authorities before he was assigned to an Israel-bound flight. The UAE’s findings indicate that the airline’s hiring checks did not reveal evidence of the alleged plot; the public account has not established whether other agencies had prior information about the suspect.</p><p>The investigation remains ongoing.</p>