Dubai, Oct 3 — The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 has been identified as Hamam Alhamami, according to Al Arabiya English sources cited by ANI.

Reports say he was previously barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views linked to time he spent in Syria. Israel’s Channel 12 reported investigators found signs of indoctrination into al-Qaeda’s ideology.

CNN reported he was removed from Oman Air training last year after concerns about radical views, then given another role at the airline. A Fox News report said Oman Air grounded him in 2024 after discovering he visited radical Islamic websites, and that FlyDubai did not check with Oman Air before hiring him.

i24NEWS reported he told investigators he intended to crash the aircraft in Israel. He had worked for FlyDubai for about eight months. UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity or background. A terrorism investigation is underway. Fox News reported that Oman Air grounded him in 2024 after discovering extremist website visits. The case has raised questions about pilot vetting across Gulf carriers.