tel aviv —
The co-pilot who allegedly attacked a colleague and tried to steal the controls on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel probably acted alone, an Israeli source told CNN.
International investigators are still working to determine a motive, but Israeli officials said information from the investigation suggests the suspect acted alone.
Another Israeli official said Israel was not aware of any ties to any group or government at this time. Both sides emphasized that this is the understanding to date.
Both the United Arab Emirates and Israel are investigating the incident. The Saudi Ministry of Interior, where the plane made an emergency landing, is also investigating.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot on the flight attacked his colleague with a crash ax, a required equipment on most aircraft, and tried to seize control of the plane. The attorney general called the attempted hijacking an “act of terrorism.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday that based on “personal information” collected during the ongoing interrogation of the suspect, Israel understands that the suspect has been “brainwashed by Islamic extremists.” Prime Minister Netanyahu did not provide further details.
Immediately after the attack, US President Donald Trump said “based on what we are hearing” that the suspect may have ties to Iran. However, he did not reveal any other details.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 narrowly avoided disaster during its flight from Dubai, plummeting thousands of feet in minutes during an attack on the captain.
Despite his injuries, the pilot, Captain Sumit Mucher, managed to unlock the cockpit door and alert the passengers and crew of his distress, who bravely rushed into the cockpit to regain control of the aircraft.
The suspect, Hammam al-Hamami, is an Omani national who was fired from his previous job at Oman’s national airline last year over concerns about his extremist views, sources told CNN.
His LinkedIn profile, which goes by the name Hammam Al Hammami, states that he worked for Oman Air for seven years, retiring in February 2025, and then joined Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc in June 2025, departing in January 2026. A source told CNN that the profile is of the Flydubai pilot in Wednesday’s incident. The profile has since been deleted, and CNN has reached out to LinkedIn for comment.
A post posted to his LinkedIn profile on Wednesday, about nine hours after the attack, included a photo of the former al-Qaeda leader. It’s unclear who published the post or if it was scheduled in advance.
Israeli officials told CNN that al-Hamami had only worked at Flydubai for eight months.
Another source said the alleged perpetrator previously worked for Royal Air Maroc. In a statement to The Associated Press, Moloch Air said the suspect trained with the company for three months in 2025 as part of a pre-hiring process but was not selected.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) also told CNN that it was investigating al-Hamami’s ties to the country and would provide updates as needed.
Questions remain about how an Omani national who has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel was allowed to co-pilot the flight to Tel Aviv, despite Israel’s strict safety regulations.
The Israeli Tax Authority confirmed that the names of all passengers and crew members were provided to Israeli authorities before the plane’s takeoff, adding that it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport to answer any vetting questions. But a Department of Transportation spokesperson told reporters on Saturday that the department’s regulations do not include verifying the names of crew members.
The incident has sparked criticism of the Israeli government, particularly Transport Minister Miri Regev, with some opposition groups calling for her removal from office.
