The co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and attempting to hijack a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been identified as Hamam al Hammami, an Omani national who studied aviation management at a UK university.
Incident details
Al Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe during the flight on Wednesday, according to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general. The plane, carrying more than 170 people, plunged 17,000ft (5,200m) two and a half hours into its journey before passengers overpowered the attacker and regained control of the aircraft.
Background and investigation
The UAE attorney general told state media that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances and motives of the incident. Israeli officials have claimed the co-pilot was attempting to crash the plane in a 9/11-style tragedy.
Al Hammami, who has a Syrian mother and was born in the UAE, had been banned from flying by Oman over fears he had adopted extremist views before being hired by FlyDubai, sources told the Associated Press. The airline said the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.
UK university connection
Buckinghamshire New University confirmed that al Hammami was enrolled on one of its remote courses. He completed a three-year distance-learning course and graduated with a degree in aviation management in 2023. The university added that he did not undertake any pilot training there.
A university spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the injured pilot, crew and passengers involved in this incident. Hamam al Hammami previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management. He did not undertake any pilot training at the University."
