UAE Shared Flydubai Crew List With Israel Before Flight, Report Reveals Co-Pilot Clearance

According to media sources, the UAE shared the crew list of a Flydubai flight with Israeli authorities before it took off for Tel Aviv, but the Omani co-pilot accused of planning a terror act was still authorised to travel. The revelation has prompted new concerns about security procedures and the transmission of aviation data across countries.

The co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit with a crash axe. Investigators are looking into how he was able to board the plane and pass the necessary inspections despite allegations that Oman had previously barred him from flying.

The incident endangered more than 180 individuals onboard. The situation was brought under control when Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door after being stabbed, allowing passengers and other crew members to subdue the attacker.

UAE Shared Flydubai Crew List With Israel Before Departure

Regional officials have reportedly verified that the UAE gave Israeli authorities with passenger and crew information, including nationalities, before to the flight. The information-sharing method is widely accepted in international aviation, but the event has prompted questions about how well such details are reviewed.

Israeli officials reportedly admitted that no concerns had been raised about anyone onboard prior to the incident. However, doubts remain about how Hammami gained permission to operate a trip to Israel, especially considering the lack of diplomatic links between Israel and Oman.

According to Israel’s security service, Shin Bet, the Transportation Ministry is in charge of vetting passenger lists. However, the ministry maintained that it had neither received a passenger list or any warning of a potential security threat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the country had arrangements with foreign airlines to ban pilots from countries without diplomatic relations from flying into Israel. The event has called into question the plans and methods used to screen flight crew members.

According to an earlier story by The Wall Street Journal, Oman has prohibited Hammami from flying. Despite this restriction, he reportedly secured an employment with Flydubai, raising more concerns about the inspections he underwent before being allowed to fly.

Hammam al-Hammami’s Clearance Raises Security Questions

Investigators are also looking into Hammami’s previous visits to Israel and the alleged planning of the attack. According to The Times of Israel, he has visited Ben Gurion Airport multiple times in the months after starting work as a Flydubai pilot.

Hammami reportedly told investigators that he flew to Israel in June to acquire intelligence and plot the attack. He was alleged to have planned the operation for July but then cancelled it at the last minute because he was pals with one of the crew members.

The suspected target was a skyscraper in Tel Aviv, and Hammami apparently planned to crash the plane into it after attacking Captain Machchhar in the cockpit.

Despite the significant claims, Israeli officials have yet to question Hammami. They are currently requesting information from investigators in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as they investigate the event.

The investigation is expected to focus on how the co-pilot passed the necessary security procedures, whether the relevant material was appropriately evaluated, and how existing agreements between airlines and authorities were implemented.

The purported exchange of the crew list has added another critical component to the investigation. Investigators are also looking into the information sharing and clearance procedures to determine how Hammami was able to board the flight despite concerns about his history.