New revelations: Flydubai Co-Pilot Had Previously Been Grounded Over Extremist Materials

New details about the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv are raising serious questions about the pilot's background screening and how he was subsequently allowed to return to flight duties.

The suspect, identified in reports as Humam al-Hammami, is an Omani national born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother, according to sources cited by CNN. He reportedly lived in the UAE for several years and had worked for Flydubai for approximately eight months before the September 30 incident.

According to reports by CNN, ABC News and The Wall Street Journal, the pilot had previously attracted security concerns while working in Oman.

Pilot Was Removed From Flight Training in Oman

According to senior intelligence and law-enforcement officials cited by ABC News, extremist material was found in al-Hammami's possession in 2024 while he was working as a trainee co-pilot at Oman Air.

He was reportedly removed from flight duties but remained employed by the airline in an administrative position.

CNN separately reported that a regional diplomatic source familiar with the matter said the pilot had been removed from a training program at Oman's national airline because of concerns over radical views.

The Wall Street Journal likewise reported that his record in Oman had raised concerns over extremist views.

However, important details remain unclear, including what material was found, exactly what views were attributed to him and whether the information was formally shared with other airlines or aviation authorities.

Questions Over How He Reached the Cockpit

The revelations have intensified one of the central questions in the investigation:

How was a pilot previously identified as a potential security concern able to obtain employment with Flydubai and operate an international passenger flight to Israel?

The issue is particularly sensitive because the suspect had previously worked for Oman Air and reportedly had a connection to Royal Air Maroc before joining Flydubai.

CNN reported that he had worked for Royal Air Maroc, although Moroccan media have reported that his involvement there may have been limited to theoretical training and that he did not actually operate flights for the airline.

The differing accounts are expected to be examined as investigators reconstruct his full aviation and employment history.

Israeli Agencies Examine the Pilot's Recruitment

An Israeli official told CNN that several Israeli security bodies are now examining how the Omani national came to be assigned to a flight to Tel Aviv.

The agencies involved reportedly include the Shin Bet, Mossad, Israel Defense Forces and the Transportation Ministry.

Israel is expected to participate in the broader UAE-led investigation. Reuters reported that Israeli officials are expected to question the suspect after his transfer from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE has retained primary responsibility for the investigation.

Suspect Transferred to UAE

The pilot was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE after Saudi medical authorities determined that his condition allowed the move.

According to ABC News, investigators say he has been cooperating with authorities and indicated that his intention was to crash the aircraft in Israel.

That account remains part of an active investigation and has not been independently established in court.

The UAE investigation is examining whether the incident involved terrorism, whether it was planned in advance and whether the pilot acted under instructions from another person or organization.

Iran Connection Remains Unproven

The possibility of an Iranian connection has also been raised.

U.S. President Donald Trump said investigators were examining whether Iran had any connection to the incident and suggested that Washington would respond forcefully if Iranian responsibility were established.

At present, however, there is no publicly established evidence linking Iran to the attack.

Israeli security officials have likewise not publicly presented evidence that the suspect was directed by an Iranian organization or another outside actor.

Investigators are examining his communications, online activity, personal history, ideological influences and possible contacts.

Major Aviation-Security Questions

Aviation-security specialists have described the incident as a potentially serious security failure.

The question is not limited to how a weapon allegedly reached the cockpit or how the pilot was able to attack the captain.

Investigators must also determine whether information collected in Oman in 2024 should have prevented the suspect from returning to flight duties or joining another airline.

If the concerns about extremist material were known to relevant authorities but were not communicated to Flydubai, the case could raise broader questions about international information-sharing between airlines, aviation regulators and security agencies.

A Flight That Came Close to Disaster

The investigation follows an extraordinary sequence of events aboard the Flydubai aircraft.

The plane, carrying passengers to Tel Aviv, entered a dramatic descent after the captain was attacked. Passengers and crew intervened, while pilots aboard the aircraft helped regain control.

The aircraft ultimately made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayon, who helped overpower the attacker and regain initial control of the aircraft, has since been praised for his actions and met U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

The Critical Question

The investigation is now moving beyond the dramatic events inside the cockpit.

Authorities must establish what happened on the aircraft, why the pilot attacked the captain, whether he intended to crash the plane, whether anyone directed him — and perhaps most importantly, what authorities knew about him before he ever entered the cockpit.

If the reports that he had previously been removed from flight training over extremist material are confirmed, the case could become an international test of aviation-security screening and the sharing of sensitive information between airlines and governments.

For now, the UAE-led investigation continues, with Israel and other countries expected to contribute information.

The central unanswered question remains: how did a pilot who had previously attracted security concerns make his way into the cockpit of an international passenger flight bound for Israel?