Details of the Incident Involving Co-Pilot Humam Al-Hamami
According to Channel 12 in Israel, Omani co-pilot Humam Al-Hamami disclosed during his interrogation that he had plans to deliberately crash his aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport. This revelation came to light following an incident where he specifically attacked the pilot while the plane was flying over Jordan, close to the Israeli border. The channel reported that Al-Hamami's scheme involved initiating a normal descent protocol, only to veer the aircraft into a collision course with the airport terminal at the last possible moment, making it nearly impossible to intercept the aircraft in time.
The plot was thwarted thanks to the decisive actions of the Indian pilot, who, despite sustaining injuries, managed to open the cockpit door at all costs. Italian daily "Corriere della Sera" further elaborated on the investigation, indicating that Israeli authorities suspected Al-Hamami had meticulously planned to kill the captain of the Flydubai flight, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, then continue the flight normally before crashing into the city’s skyscrapers.
Pre-Flight Preparations and the Attack
The report highlighted that the flight captain, 38-year-old Sumeet Matcher, who boasts thousands of hours flying Boeing 737 aircraft, arrived on time and successfully passed security checks. Shortly thereafter, Al-Hamami, a 29-year-old Omani national, joined him. Around 5:30 AM Dubai time, the two pilots held a preparatory meeting in a designated lounge for Flydubai crews. Matcher was at the helm while Al-Hamami served as the co-pilot, accompanied by six other crew members.
During initial preparations, Al-Hamami exhibited a mix of humor and lengthy silences, yet the atmosphere remained professional, with no unusual behavior reported. Standard procedures began, including equipment checks, flight plan input into the aircraft's computer systems, fuel verification, and weather updates. Meanwhile, cabin crew organized the galley, arranged meal trays, and checked seating and safety equipment.
Among the safety equipment was an emergency axe located behind the pilots' seats—a requirement in most commercial passenger aircraft, used in life-saving scenarios such as breaking cockpit windows during a fire, accessing electrical systems, or freeing trapped pilots after an emergency landing. However, in a chilling twist, this axe became a weapon for Al-Hamami, who used it to strike Matcher, attempting to take control of the aircraft by tampering with the controls before attempting to shut down both engines.
The investigation revealed that the captain suffered severe injuries, including a critical wound to one of his arms. Nevertheless, he managed to assist other crew members in regaining control of the aircraft. Israeli investigators suspect that Al-Hamami had premeditated this operation, claiming his plan was to kill the captain discreetly and continue on course to Tel Aviv, ultimately crashing into the skyscrapers, leaving no time for fighter jets to scramble and intercept the plane or for negotiations to commence.
Furthermore, the report indicated that Al-Hamami had previously been dismissed from Oman Air due to alleged extremist views, and he began working for Flydubai about eight months prior to the incident. Social media posts attributed to him displayed extreme comments against women and Jews. American network CBS, citing informed sources, stated that preliminary investigations suggest the possibility that the co-pilot acted alone, with all scenarios still under examination.
Currently, Al-Hamami is undergoing interrogation in the UAE after initially being questioned in Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft landed. Israel has sent representatives to participate in the investigation there. 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 crash the plane carrying over 170 passengers and crew members. A reserve pilot from Flydubai, who was also on board, took over the controls and successfully landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where authorities apprehended the co-pilot.
As reported by almodon.com.
