Global Probe Widens: Flydubai Co-Pilot's Past Scrutinized
Global Probe Widens: Flydubai Co-Pilot's Past Scrutinized
An international investigation is unraveling the mysterious past of Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, accused of a mid-air hijacking attempt. Learn about his time in New Zealand and Australia as authorities piece toget
A terrifying incident on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv on September 30 has sparked a global investigation, focusing on the alleged actions and complex past of co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. Disaster was narrowly averted when passengers and crew intervened to stop the 29-year-old Omani national from reportedly trying to hijack the plane carrying 182 people.
Authorities across New Zealand, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates are now scrambling to piece together Hammami's background, intentions, and whether he acted alone. The UAE's prosecutor general stated that Hammami allegedly used a crash axe in what was described as an attempted “terrorist attack,” during which the pilot was reportedly stabbed mid-air. Investigators suspect an earlier attack plan in July was postponed.
New Zealand police have launched their own inquiry into Hammami's time in the country, where he spent 175 days on a student visa from late 2018 to mid-2019.
He was reportedly completing flight training for a UK-based company that is no longer operational there.
Meanwhile, Australian security agencies are also investigating, as Hammami spent about two years as a student in Australia until 2017, abandoning an engineering degree at RMIT University in Melbourne.
Social media posts believed to be linked to Hammami, now deleted, reportedly described his overseas study years as “the golden years of my religious commitment” but claimed he became less observant upon returning to Oman. Australia's peak Jewish body, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has called for a thorough investigation into his associations in the country, citing concerns about extremist literature and radicalization.
The flight's captain, Smit Machchhar, gave a harrowing account, recalling a “big blow” to the back of his head shortly after Hammami left his seat to pray. Despite severe injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit, preventing further escalation of the alleged attack.
The multi-national investigation continues to uncover the motivations behind this shocking incident and to ensure aviation security.
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