Tel Aviv: The FlyDubai co-pilot who officials said nearly crashed a Tel Aviv-bound flight carrying 182 people had earlier been barred from flying by his native Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views, according to a person familiar with the matter, the Associated Press reported.
The co-pilot was subsequently hired by the UAE-based airline, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. It was not immediately clear how thoroughly he was vetted when he was hired.
Co-pilot identified as Omani national
The co-pilot has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami by people familiar with the matter.
He is accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, September 30.
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred. The aircraft later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar was injured in the attack and was later transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. He is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital.
Investigation into cockpit attack
Israeli investigators are involved in the probe, while Emirati authorities are leading the investigation, according to an Israeli official cited by AP.
It remains unclear whether the co-pilot acted alone or was part of a group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radicalisation,” but has provided no evidence to back the assertion.
“We are now investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price,” Netanyahu said in a video message on Friday.
The investigation is continuing into the co-pilot’s background, the cockpit attack and the circumstances surrounding his employment by FlyDubai after he had earlier been barred from flying in Oman.
