Flydubai co-pilot trained in New Zealand before hijack attempt
The accused flydubai hijacker trained in New Zealand and Australia before the September attack.
New Zealand police are investigating a flydubai co-pilot. He is accused of trying to hijack a plane to Tel Aviv on September 30.
Hamam al-Hammami is 29 years old and an Omani national. He spent 175 days in New Zealand from November 2018 to May 2019.
He completed flight training there for a UK-based company. Australian authorities are investigating his time as a student in Melbourne.
He attended RMIT for about two years. He left before finishing his engineering degree.
Passengers and crew stopped the hijacking. They stepped in when al-Hammami tried to take control.
The pilot was stabbed in the air but helped overpower al-Hammami. Multiple countries are now looking at his background.
They want to understand his intentions and whether he acted alone.
- September 30
- Flight date
- 182 people
- Passengers aboard
- 175 days, November 2018 to May 2019
- Training in NZ
- 29 years old, Omani national
- Al-Hammami's age and nationality
Why it mattersThe investigation is expanding. Authorities believe al-Hammami's background and training are important to understanding how the hijack was planned. They want to know whether others were involved.
AustraliaAustralian security agencies are investigating al-Hammami's time in Australia and associations there, part of a broader effort to understand how he moved through two countries before the alleged attack.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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