FlyDubai attack: Oman wasn't consulted on attacker pilot Hamam

New Delhi: FlyDubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, who tried to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and violently attacked pilot Smit Machchhar, had worked for a limited period as a trainee at an Omani airline and was debarred from the aviation sector due to his proximity to extremist materials. Muscat did not receive any requests from his future employers on his background while he was being recruited.

The individual (Hamam al-Hammami) worked for a limited period as a trainee at an Omani airline. However, when the Omani authorities identified, at an early stage, his interest in accessing extremist websites on the internet, he was prevented from working in the aviation sector, senior sources in the Oman government told ET. This subsequently led him to leave Oman, the sources informed.

The Omani authorities did not receive any requests from other countries to conduct background checks on him for employment purposes, the sources claimed. "Had such information been requested, Oman would have shared the information available on him, as it is doing now," according to one of the sources quoted above.


Also Read | Flydubai incident: Multiple countries probe co-pilot’s background after cockpit attack: Reports

The individual is an Omani national, born in the UAE, whose mother is of Syrian origin. He spent a significant part of his life outside Oman, both during his father's period of employment in the UAE and while staying with his mother in Syria, as well as during his studies abroad, sources pointed out.

It is publicly known that under the aviation agreement between Israel and the UAE, flights on route between the two countries may only be operated by pilots holding the UAE nationality or the nationality of another country that has normalised relations with Israel. It is therefore possible that this individual may hold another nationality, according to the persons familiar with the issue.

AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION

Meanwhile, Australian investigative agencies are probing the links between the country and Hamam al-Hammami. He was reportedly issued a student visa by Australia in 2014, and studied there between 2015 and 2017.

Also Read | Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking captain Smit Machchhar identified as Hamam al-Hammami

United Arab Emirates attorney general Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said on Saturday that the FlyDubai co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist act and that he began executing his plan during the flight by assaulting the pilot inside the cockpit using a crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft's controls, according to the UAE's official news agency WAM.