New Delhi: Were red flags ignored before disaster nearly struck at 30,000 feet? Reports reveal that the flydubai co-pilot who is accused of attacking his captain, Captain Smit Machchhar, in a bid to crash a commercial aircraft had been barred from the skies in Oman over security issues. He has been identified by Al Arabiya English sources as Hamam Alhamami.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has said investigators are examining the circumstances of the September 30 incident, including operational and security aspects. Because of questions over his alleged radical ideological views, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claimed that the Omani national had been banned from flying in his home country. CNN reported that he was removed from a training programme at Oman’s national airline last year after suspicions over his alleged radical views. CNN reported that he worked for flydubai for only about eight months.
ABC News also said that he had been suspended by the Oman Air after being identified as a security risk. Citing a regional diplomatic source, the broadcster said that he was later given another role at the airline. Al Arabiya English, quoting its sources, said Alhamami had spent much of his time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly exposed to extremist ideas before travelling to the UAE. The report said he left Oman after authorities stopped him from flying. Another source cited by the news channel said he had previously worked for the Royal Air Maroc. The WSJ said it could not establish whether Oman had shared its assessment of the pilot with other countries or airlines. The report also said the nature of his alleged radicalisation was unclear. An Israeli official told CNN that several Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet, Mossad, the military and the Transportation Ministry, were investigating how the suspect became part of the flight crew. On Friday (October 2), he said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radicalisation” and alleged that he intended to crash the plane with its passengers on board.
The suspect’s employment history is now an important part of the investigation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the incident in terms of an attempted attack.
The precise nature of the material or views that led to the earlier action has not been publicly established. It has also urged people not to circulate unofficial information before the investigation produces its findings.
