New details have emerged about the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound passenger aircraft and attempting to seize control of the plane, with officials saying he had previously been restricted from flying in Oman because of concerns over extremist views.

The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, an Omani national, according to people familiar with the investigation. UAE authorities have said he attacked the captain with a crash axe inside the cockpit of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

Previously Barred From Flying in Oman

A regional official and another person familiar with the case said Al-Hammami had earlier been prevented from flying by Omani authorities over concerns that he had developed extremist views.

He was subsequently transferred to an administrative position at Oman Air, according to the officials. They did not provide details about the nature of the concerns or the evidence behind them.

Al-Hammami was later hired by FlyDubai.

A Gulf diplomat said he underwent standard security screening before joining the UAE-based airline, but suggested those checks may have focused mainly on whether he had criminal convictions rather than conducting a deeper assessment for possible radicalisation.

FlyDubai has said it cannot comment beyond its official statements while the investigation remains active. Oman Air had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.

Attack Aboard Flight FZ1073

The UAE Federal Prosecution has said its investigation found that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist attack during the flight.

According to UAE Federal Prosecutor Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, the co-pilot assaulted the captain with a crash axe and then tried to take control of the aircraft. Authorities are continuing to examine physical and digital evidence and investigate the circumstances, motives and any possible connections linked to the incident.

The aircraft was carrying 182 people when the incident occurred.

Passengers and other crew members intervened after the captain managed to unlock the cockpit door despite suffering serious injuries. The co-pilot was subdued, while other FlyDubai crew members travelling on board helped regain control of the aircraft.

The plane later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Investigators Examine Possible Motive

Security agencies from four regional countries are reportedly involved in investigating the co-pilot’s motive, with assistance from the United States and other Western governments.

According to a Gulf diplomat cited by the Associated Press, investigators had not found evidence linking Al-Hammami to a militant organisation at the time of reporting, raising the possibility that he acted alone. The investigation remains ongoing.

Officials said Al-Hammami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother and acquired Omani nationality through his father. He had also travelled to Syria, although no further details about that visit were provided.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Al-Hammami had undergone “Islamist radicalization,” but publicly available reporting noted that he did not provide evidence supporting that assertion.

Questions Raised Over Aviation Security Checks

The case has prompted scrutiny over how aviation employees are screened when moving between airlines and countries.

Israel’s Tax Authority said passenger and crew information for Flight FZ1073 had been received before departure, while Israel’s Transportation Ministry did not say whether the co-pilot’s details had been reviewed before the flight.

Aviation security specialists have noted that background checks differ between jurisdictions and that legal and practical limits can restrict the sharing of security information across borders.

UAE authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while investigators work to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.

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