Hamam al-Hammami, the accused co-pilot in the flydubai incident (Image source: LinkedIn)
The development comes as investigators examine whether al-Hammami made a further attempt to bring down the Boeing 737 after his initial attack on Captain Smit Machchhar failed. Al-Hammami, 29, is an Omani national who had previously worked for Oman Air. Because oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the issue is particularly sensitive.
CNN reported that the names of all passengers and crew had been provided to Israeli authorities before the flight took off. Israel’s tax authority confirmed receiving the list, but the transportation ministry said its protocols did not include checking the names of flight crew members.
An Israeli official told CNN that information gathered during the investigation so far suggested Hamam al-Hammami acted alone. Another Israeli source said Israel had found no known link between the suspect and any group or government, while stressing that the investigation was still ongoing. An investigation by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , cited by Ynet News, said investigators were examining whether the co-pilot moved the aircraft’s two engine fuel switches from “Run” to “Cutoff” after taking control of the plane. Al-Hammami allegedly pushed the aircraft into a steep descent after disabling the autopilot, potentially attempting to crash it in the Saudi desert after passengers and crew began thwarting his attempt to seize the aircraft, according to the report. US president Donald Trump had earlier suggested that al-Hammami could be linked to Iran, saying it was “based on what I’m hearing”. He was removed from his previous job after concerns about his extremist views, according to CNN. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separately said al-Hammami had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, based on information gathered during questioning. Netanyahu has said Israel had longstanding arrangements aimed at preventing pilots from countries without diplomatic ties from flying into the country and described the case as exposing a “loophole”.
He did not provide details. Israeli sources now say they have not identified a link to any group or government, although the investigation has not concluded. He later joined Flydubai and had been working there for around eight months. He did not provide further details.