Flydubai Pilot's Terror Links: Syrian Mother and al-Qaeda Videos Revealed
New details emerge on Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, who attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, including links to al-Qaeda and radicalism.
New and chilling details have emerged regarding Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar during a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. Investigations into the suspect's background have uncovered a history of radicalization, suspicious digital activity, and disturbing social media posts linking him to extremist ideologies.
A History of Radicalization and Surveillance
Reports indicate that al-Hammami’s history with radicalism was flagged long before the recent attack. While undergoing pilot training with Oman Air, the Omani government's surveillance detected that he was frequently visiting radical websites. This discovery led the airline to strip him of his flying privileges, moving him to a desk-based office position to prevent any potential security risks.
Following his reassignment to administrative duties, al-Hammami resigned from Oman Air around 2024. Despite these red flags, sources suggest that when he later joined Flydubai, he did so without undergoing formal background vetting by the Omani government.
Extremist Connections and Syrian Roots
The investigation into al-Hammami's identity has revealed complex family ties. While he holds Omani citizenship, sources indicate he was not born in the nation, having spent most of his life abroad. His mother is of Syrian origin, a detail that has become a focal point in discussions regarding his suspected extremist views, which were allegedly influenced by a previous stay in Syria.
The suspect's digital footprint has provided further evidence of his sympathies. A LinkedIn profile identified as belonging to al-Hammami reportedly featured two posts published just nine hours after the attack on Captain Machchhar. These posts included:
- Cockpit Footage: Video segments captured inside a Boeing 737 Max cockpit, showing an El Al aircraft.
- Terrorist Imagery: The footage concluded with photographs of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qaeda leader, and Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, a notorious al-Qaeda suicide bomber.
- AI-Generated Religious Graphics: An artificial intelligence-generated graphic depicting Islam's three holiest locations—Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem—connected by an illuminated path, accompanied by a poem about defiance and fearlessness in the face of death.
Conflicting Employment Records
The investigation has also highlighted discrepancies in al-Hammami's professional history. While he had been serving with Flydubai for approximately eight months leading up to the incident, his LinkedIn profile presented a different timeline, listing a seven-year tenure with Oman Air and a stint with Royal Air Maroc, with no mention of Flydubai.
It remains unclear whether the extremist posts on his LinkedIn account were published manually or were pre-scheduled, adding another layer of mystery to the motives behind the attack on Captain Machchhar.