Flydubai Co-Pilot's Dual Citizenship Raises Aviation Screening Gaps, Omani Sources Say

Omani sources report that Hamam al-Hammami, the 29-year-old who attacked Flydubai Flight FZ1073, may hold dual citizenship, exposing critical gaps in aviation screening. He was permanently banned from Oman's aviation sector after being flagged for radicalisation, yet was hired by Flydubai without a background check. Al-Hammami was born in the UAE to a Syrian-origin mother and spent time in Syria and Australia. Omani authorities say they never received requests for background checks from foreign governments or airlines, and would have shared his security red flags if asked. His presence in the cockpit on UAE-Israel routes, which require crew to hold UAE nationality or that of a state with normalized ties to Israel, suggests a second nationality bypassed restrictions. Investigators are probing procedural negligence or deliberate oversight in vetting.