The flydubai first officer suspected of attacking the captain during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia had previously been barred from flying in Oman. This was reported by Dawn, citing several media outlets.
Media reports identified the suspect as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami. According to officials, he allegedly attacked the Indian captain aboard the aircraft on Wednesday. The captain managed to open the cockpit door, after which passengers and crew members restrained the attacker, and the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Omani authorities barred the pilot from flying over concerns about his radical ideological views. CNN, citing two sources familiar with the case, reported that he was dismissed from Oman’s national airline last year because of concerns about possible extremist views.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Al Arabiya, citing an informed source, said that Omani authorities concluded that the first officer held extremist views. The TV channel also reported that he had spent some time in Syria, raising concerns about the possible influence of radical groups on him.
ABC News, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation, reported that materials of an extremist nature were allegedly found in the suspect’s possession during training.
Source: UA
