Flydubai co-pilot in Dubai-Tel Aviv hijack attempt had Al-Qaeda-linked posts, CNN says
Version 2: A further outlet, Newsis, has now published coverage focused on aviation security loopholes and how the co-pilot became a Flydubai pilot, while the account of the 30 September attack and CNN's social media findings is unchanged.
In short
Posts praising Al-Qaeda and other extremist organisations appeared on the LinkedIn and Instagram accounts of the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and trying to seize a Tel Aviv-bound flight on 30 September, CNN reported. The co-pilot is identified as Omani national Hamam Alhammami; he was subdued by crew and Israeli passengers aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai, which carried about 180 people. UAE prosecutors have called the incident an act of terrorism and authorities are examining his motive and whether he had a backer, while it is not confirmed whether he posted the material himself.
Read the full story 2 min read
CNN reported that posts praising Al-Qaeda and other Islamist extremist organisations appeared on the LinkedIn and Instagram accounts of the Flydubai co-pilot under investigation, about nine hours after the incident. According to the reports, the material included cockpit video filmed in October 2023 showing Israeli El Al aircraft at Dubai International Airport, photographs of former Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and of Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, described as an Al-Qaeda-linked bomber who killed nine people, including CIA officers, in Afghanistan in 2009, and an AI-generated image of Islam's three holy sites with a voice passage saying the speaker would not fear death and would protect dignity. Both reports said it is not confirmed whether the co-pilot posted the material himself, whether the posts were scheduled in advance or whether someone else posted them. [ 1 , 2 ]
The incident occurred on 30 September aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which carried about 180 people, many of them Israeli. Yonhap, citing the UAE prosecution service, said the co-pilot attacked the captain with an in-flight emergency axe and tried to seize the aircraft. The Indian national captain was seriously injured but unlocked the cockpit door, and three Israeli passengers and crew entered the cockpit and subdued him, the report said. Yonhap reported that passengers were gripped by fear of death as the aircraft descended. [ 1 , 2 ]
UAE authorities have taken over the arrested co-pilot, and the country's prosecution service has officially classified the case as an act of terrorism, according to Yonhap. Hankook Ilbo reported that UAE authorities are investigating the specific criminal motive and whether he had a backer. Yonhap reported he told UAE investigators he intended to seize the controls and crash the aircraft in Israel. [ 1 , 2 ]
Yonhap identified the co-pilot as Hamam Alhammami, 29, an Omani national born in the UAE to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. His LinkedIn page said he studied at Britain's Buckinghamshire New University, which confirmed to CNN that a man of that name obtained an aviation management degree in 2023 through a three-year distance-learning course, Yonhap reported. CNN reported he worked at Oman Air for about seven years, was removed from flight duties last year over concerns about extremist views and moved to another role, later worked for Royal Air Maroc and joined Flydubai this year, according to Yonhap. CNN also analysed nearly 3,000 deleted Twitter posts attributed to him and found persistent religious extremism and misogyny, Yonhap reported. [ 1 ]
The case has drawn criticism that Israel's aviation security has a serious gap, because a pilot of Omani nationality — from a country that does not recognise Israel — flew a service to Israel without prior vetting, according to Yonhap. An Israeli Transport Ministry spokesperson acknowledged at a briefing that the ministry's security regulations contain no item for verifying terror threats from foreign airline pilots, Yonhap reported. Newsis published coverage framed around how a person with extremist views became a Flydubai co-pilot and on aviation security loopholes. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case has put attention on how foreign pilots flying to Israel are vetted: the documents say Israel's Transport Ministry acknowledged its security rules contain no item for checking foreign airline pilots for terror threats, and CNN reported the co-pilot had earlier been removed from flight duties over concerns about extremist views. The UAE investigation is still open, so motive and any possible backer remain unresolved.
Key facts
- CNN reported that posts praising Al-Qaeda and other extremist organisations appeared on the co-pilot's LinkedIn and Instagram accounts about nine hours after the incident. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The co-pilot is identified as Omani national Hamam Alhammami; Yonhap reported he is 29. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The incident occurred on 30 September aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which had about 180 people on board, many of them Israeli. [ 1 , 2 ]
- UAE prosecutors said he attacked the captain with an in-flight emergency axe and tried to seize the aircraft. [ 1 ]
- An Indian national captain was seriously injured but unlocked the cockpit door, and three Israeli passengers and crew entered the cockpit and subdued him. [ 1 ]
- It is not confirmed whether he posted the material himself, whether it was scheduled in advance or whether someone else posted it. [ 1 , 2 ]
- An Israeli Transport Ministry spokesperson said the ministry's security regulations contain no item for verifying terror threats from foreign airline pilots. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published coverage framed around how a person with extremist views became a Flydubai co-pilot and on aviation security loopholes. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Posts praising Al-Qaeda and other extremist organisations appeared on the co-pilot's LinkedIn and Instagram accounts about nine hours after the incident, as reported by CNN. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The co-pilot is Omani national Hamam Alhammami. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The flight was Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September. [ 1 , 2 ]
- It is not confirmed whether the posts were made by him, scheduled in advance or posted by someone else. [ 1 , 2 ]
- UAE prosecutors said he attacked the captain with an in-flight emergency axe and tried to seize the aircraft as an act of terrorism. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Alhammami posted the material himself, whether the posts were pre-scheduled or whether another person posted them. Both documents say CNN could not confirm this.
- The specific criminal motive and whether there was a backer. Hankook Ilbo reports UAE authorities are still investigating these points.
- Where the aircraft was when the attack took place. The documents say the incident happened inside the cabin of a flight leaving Dubai for Tel Aviv but give no location.
- The reaction of LinkedIn and Meta. Hankook Ilbo reported they had not yet responded to CNN's requests for comment.
- Alhammami's age of 29, his removal from flight duties over concerns about extremist views, his university studies and his earlier employers. These details appear in one outlet, Yonhap, which attributes them to CNN.
- Whether the social media accounts and the deleted Twitter posts analysed by CNN are conclusively his. The documents describe the accounts as his but do not state that ownership has been confirmed.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 30 September, Flydubai flight FZ1073 leaves Dubai for Tel Aviv; the co-pilot attacks the captain and tries to seize the aircraft, with about 180 people on board. [ 1 , 2 ]
- About nine hours after the incident, posts praising extremist organisations appear on the co-pilot's LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, according to CNN. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 3 October local time, CNN reports the social media findings. [ 1 , 2 ]
- On 4 October, Yonhap publishes its report on the CNN findings and the UAE prosecution's statement. [ 1 ]
- On 4 October, Hankook Ilbo publishes its report. [ 2 ]
- On 6 October, Newsis publishes a report on aviation security loopholes and how the co-pilot became a Flydubai pilot. [ 3 ]