New York : The flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, who attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, had already been flagged as a potential problem before he took control of a passenger jet. Vance’s remarks came after reports that authorities in Oman had previously flagged concerns about al-Hammami’s behaviour and removed him from flying duties.
Omani authorities had previously scrutinised the 29-year-old’s online activity and concluded that his interest in radical ideology raised concerns about his suitability to fly for Oman Air, where he had worked. Al-Hammami was subsequently banned from flying and put through a deradicalisation programme before being moved to a desk job, the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
When flydubai hired him in February this year, the airline apparently did not contact Oman to check his previous employment history. Vance said the incident had prompted the US administration to look closely at its own aviation security procedures, particularly how authorities determine whether someone is fit to operate a passenger aircraft.
Asked about foreign pilots operating in the US, Vance said authorities needed to pay close attention to people entering the country and assess whether they could pose a security risk. He also drew a comparison with the September 11 attacks, saying the US had previously allowed people into the country who “shouldn’t have been here and certainly shouldn’t have been flying planes”.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. Israeli and UAE authorities later described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Al-Hammami used the cockpit’s emergency crash axe during the struggle and attempted to seize control of the aircraft.
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