New Delhi:

The flydubai co-pilot who attempted to sabotage the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was reportedly barred from flying by his native Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam Alhamami – an Omani citizen born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to an Omani father and Syrian mother, a report by the Wall Street Journal said.

According to reports, Alhamami spent most of his time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was allegedly influenced by extremist ideas.

Reports said that Alhamami was working as a co-pilot trainee for Oman Air in 2024 when he was found to be in possession of extremist materials. He was allowed to continue working for the airline in an administrative role, but barred from flying. Despite the ban, Alhamami was hired by flydubai – the Dubai-based airline – allowing him to fly on the sensitive route connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

The pilot had worked for flydubai for only eight months, reported CNN.

Reports also suggested that Al Hamami had intended to crash the flydubai aircraft in Israel.