Sourced fact
The News
Emirati officials reported that the Omani pilot Hammam Al-Hammami, who attempted to hijack a FlyDubai aircraft to turn it into a drone, began to slide towards extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia. According to UAE Minister of Justice Hamad Salem Al-Shamsi, investigations have shown that the first signs of Hammami's radicalization began in 2017 while he was studying in Australia. Al-Shamsi explained that the pilot was influenced by takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and watching electronic content that glorifies terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.
The Emirates News Agency WAM reported that the investigations revealed that Hammami psychologically and physically prepared for the attack by increasing his exposure to terrorist propaganda and training in boxing with a private coach. Hammami also admitted that he acted alone without cooperation with any other party, although investigations continue to confirm this claim.
In the incident that occurred on September 30, the aircraft's captain sustained injuries in the cockpit after Hammami attacked him with an emergency hammer. Passengers managed to control the pilot and open the cockpit door, allowing the crew to safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia. Israeli media praised the assistance of co-pilot Captain Smith Matchar, who managed to open the cockpit door during the attack on him.
The incident raised questions about security loopholes in hiring practices and security screening. Sources in the region noted that Hammami was barred from flying by Oman Air due to concerns about his radicalization before being hired by FlyDubai after undergoing standard security checks that did not reveal any extremist indicators. Reports also indicated that Israeli law prohibits pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Oman, from flying to Israel.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, this incident highlights the security challenges faced by airlines in verifying pilots' backgrounds. It underscores the need for more comprehensive security checks to detect signs of extremism or terrorism. Additionally, it highlights the role of the internet in propagating extremist ideologies and its impact on individuals.
In a broader context, the incident reflects the security challenges faced by countries in dealing with individuals who are moving towards extremism while studying abroad. Countries face difficulties in tracking these individuals and taking effective measures to prevent them from carrying out attacks. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism and investigating such incidents.
