Co-pilot in FlyDubai incident identified as Omani national

The suspected Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed the captain of an Israel-bound flight—before passengers and others stopped the attack—has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, according to sources. Investigators are trying to determine whether he acted alone or had any connection to extremist groups. Officials said the incident involved a near-crash during a sharply plummeting flight carrying 182 people. The report claims Oman barred him from flying over concerns he had adopted extremist views, and that he was later hired by the UAE-based airline Flydubai, though it’s unclear how thoroughly he was vetted. Israel has agreements to restrict pilots from countries without diplomatic relations; Israel and Oman have no formal ties. The captain, badly injured, said he unlocked the cockpit door using remaining energy, enabling others to intervene. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, and both crew members were taken to the UAE.