By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit of a Flydubai passenger aircraft and attempting to take control of the plane, has emerged at the centre of an international investigation after the UAE officially described the incident as an attempted terrorist act.
The UAE Attorney-General, Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said on Saturday that the investigation into Flydubai flight FZ1073 had established that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Al-Hammami allegedly attacked the captain Machchhar inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Investigators are examining the circumstances, motive, possible links and any evidence of planning or outside direction.
The Boeing 737 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 with more than 170 people aboard when the cockpit attack occurred while the aircraft was over Saudi Arabia. The plane made two rapid descents, losing more than 14,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds. Despite being seriously injured, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower al-Hammami. Two off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft then helped stabilise the plane before it made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Who is Hamam al-Hammami?
Al-Hammami is reported to be a 29-year-old Omani national, born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother. According to reporting based on his employment and education records, he worked for Oman Air for about seven years and studied aviation management through a distance-learning programme at Buckinghamshire New University in Britain, graduating in 2023.
His employment history reportedly included Oman Air, a period associated with Royal Air Maroc, and subsequently Flydubai. He had reportedly been working for Flydubai for about eight months before the September 30 incident.
Questions have arisen over his earlier career at Oman Air. US and international media, citing intelligence, law-enforcement and other sources familiar with the investigation, have reported that he was removed from flight training or barred from flying in Oman after concerns about extremist views and material were raised. The precise circumstances and timing of that action have been reported differently by various sources, and the allegations remain part of the investigation.
Reports have also referred to material allegedly found on online accounts linked to him, but investigators have not publicly established the full significance of that material or whether he was acting on behalf of any organisation.
What does the UAE say?
The UAE’s position has evolved as the investigation has progressed.
Immediately after the incident, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) described it as a security incident that had been brought under control and said the aircraft had been diverted to Tabuk.
On October 1, UAE Attorney-General Al Shamsi ordered a specialised investigation to establish the facts, circumstances and motives and specifically examine whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning or direction. He also said UAE judicial authorities had jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies the UAE flag.
On Saturday, however, the UAE gave its strongest official assessment yet, saying the investigation had found that al-Hammami attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Authorities said the probe remains active and will examine physical and digital evidence, the motive and possible connections.