Pilot accused of hijacking attempt radicalised while studying in Australia
Saturday 10 October 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story NZ Police, Paul Goldsmith, flydubai
Emirati investigators claim the pilot accused of attempting to hijack a FlyDubai flight began drifting towards extremism while studying in Australia. The Omani national allegedly attacked a co-pilot with an axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He previously spent several months in New Zealand on a student visa for pilot training.
Key facts
5 facts
- Hammam al-Hammami is an Omani national accused of attempting to hijack a FlyDubai flight
- The attack involved an axe used against the co-pilot over Saudi Arabia
- Al-Hammami studied at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia
- The suspect spent 175 days in New Zealand on a student visa from November 2018 to May 2019
- The plane made an emergency landing in northern Saudi Arabia
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Emirati investigators have revealed that Omani national Hammam al-Hammami allegedly began drifting towards extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia in 2017. Al-Hammami is accused of attacking his co-pilot with an axe during a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv. The attack occurred over Saudi Arabia on a flight carrying more than 170 passengers.
The suspect allegedly intended to hijack the plane and crash it into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport to cause maximum casualties. According to the UAE attorney-general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Al-Hammami was inspired by the September 11 attacks. The suspect reportedly confessed to acting alone and preparing himself through boxing training and exposure to extremist material.
Al-Hammami spent 175 days in New Zealand on a student visa between November 2018 and May 2019 to complete pilot training. New Zealand Police are investigating his time in the country, while the Australian Federal Police and the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team are reviewing his historical activities in Australia.
The incident involved an Indian co-pilot, Smit Machchhar, who managed to unlock the cockpit door during the attack. This allowed passengers to enter the cockpit and regain control of the aircraft. A pilot on board eventually executed an emergency landing in northern Saudi Arabia.
How it developed
- Sat 10 Oct, 7:59pmNew Zealand and Australian authorities are investigating Al-Hammami's historical activities and links to extremism in both countries.
Where reports differ
- One report identifies the suspect as Al-Hammami, while another refers to him as Hammam al-Hammami
Compiled from reports by RNZ and Stuff.
