An early investigation by Israeli authorities indicates that the alleged attempted hijacking of a FlyDubai flight was likely a lone-wolf attack, according to people familiar with the matter. While the investigation remains in full swing and all avenues are still being explored, early findings suggest the incident may not have been part of a wider coordinated conspiracy.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. As the aircraft approached Israel, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the plane. This sequence of events has been described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers who were on board, and the flight captain himself. Following the mid-air struggle, the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the suspect was initially questioned by Saudi authorities. The co-pilot is currently in the United Arab Emirates undergoing a second round of interrogation, with Israel sending its own representatives to the UAE to participate in the investigation.
Political figures have offered differing assessments of the suspect's potential connections and motives. On Thursday, President Donald Trump suggested that the co-pilot may be linked to Iran, stating, "based on what I'm hearing." Trump added, "We're working on it right now. They're being very open with us. I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes. But we're working on it right now."
In contrast, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that the co-pilot's motives remain unknown. "I don't think it was a hijacking," Netanyahu said, adding, "I think it looks like a suicide attempt."
Although authorities have not publicly identified the co-pilot, multiple sources familiar with the investigation have stated that his name is Hamam al Hamami. Al Hamami is an Omani citizen who was not born in Oman and lived most of his life outside the country. His mother is Syrian and his father is Omani. While the Omani government has not publicly confirmed his nationality, sources said it is possible he had dual citizenship, which could explain how he was allowed to fly to Israel.
Al Hamami's professional history has drawn intense scrutiny. He previously worked for a short time for Oman Air, where he entered new pilot training. However, surveillance by the Omani government discovered that he was visiting radical websites, prompting Oman Air to transfer him to an office job. One source said the pilot resigned from his job at Oman Air after being placed on desk duty, leaving the airline around 2024.
At one point, sources said, al Hamami posted a video of El Al Israeli Airlines planes in Dubai. The clip concluded with a photo showing Ayman al-Zawahiri, the well-known al Qaeda leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2022. Following his departure from Oman Air, al Hamami moved to Dubai, where FlyDubai hired him without vetting him with the Omani government.
