Serious Allegations Against Omani Co-Pilot
According to the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera", Israeli investigators have raised suspicions that Omani co-pilot Hamam Al-Hamami planned to assassinate the captain of a Flydubai flight headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with the intention of continuing the flight normally before crashing into skyscrapers in the city. This shocking revelation highlights the potential for grave threats within commercial aviation.
The Flight Crew Meeting and Subsequent Events
The report details that Indian captain, Sumeet Matcher, 38, who boasts thousands of flight hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, arrived punctually and passed security checks before the 29-year-old Al-Hamami joined him shortly thereafter. At approximately 5:30 AM Dubai time, the two pilots held a preparatory meeting in a designated lounge for Flydubai crews. As Matcher took command of the aircraft, Al-Hamami assumed the role of co-pilot, accompanied by six other crew members.
Throughout the preparations, Al-Hamami displayed a demeanor that fluctuated between lighthearted banter and prolonged silences, although the atmosphere remained professional without any unusual behavior recorded. Standard procedures were followed meticulously, including device checks, flight plan entries into the aircraft's computers, fuel assessments, and weather updates. Meanwhile, cabin crew prepared the kitchens, arranged meal trays, inspected seats, and ensured the readiness of safety equipment.
Among the safety equipment was an emergency axe located behind the pilots' seats, a legal requirement on most commercial passenger aircraft, designed for life-saving measures such as breaking cockpit windows during a fire, accessing electrical systems, and freeing trapped pilots after an emergency landing. However, according to the Italian newspaper's account, this axe became a weapon of assault against the captain, with Al-Hamami allegedly striking Matcher and attempting to take control of the aircraft by tampering with the controls before disabling both engines.
The report notes that the captain sustained severe injuries, including a serious wound to one arm, yet he managed to assist the remaining crew in regaining control of the aircraft. Israeli investigations suggest that Al-Hamami may have premeditated the attack, intending to kill the captain discreetly and proceed along the scheduled route to Tel Aviv, ultimately aiming to crash into skyscrapers, thereby preventing fighter jets from having enough time to intercept the aircraft or initiate negotiations.
Furthermore, the newspaper revealed that Al-Hamami had previously been dismissed from Oman Air due to views deemed excessively close to Islamic extremism, prior to his employment with Flydubai approximately eight months before the incident. The report also highlighted inflammatory statements he made against women and Jews on social media platforms.
In related news, CBS News reported that preliminary investigations indicate the possibility that the co-pilot acted alone, with all scenarios still under consideration. Al-Hamami is currently undergoing questioning in the UAE after being initially interrogated in Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft landed. Israeli representatives have also been sent to participate in the investigation.
The incident occurred last Wednesday, when passengers and crew managed to subdue the co-pilot, who assaulted the captain in what Israeli officials described as an apparent attempt to bring down the aircraft, which was carrying over 170 passengers and crew members. A backup pilot from Flydubai, who was on board the flight, took control of the aircraft and successfully landed it at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where Saudi authorities apprehended the co-pilot.
As reported by almodon.com.
