Key facts
- Hamam al-Hammami, 29, is accused of attempting to hijack a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on September 30.
- Hammami underwent flight training in New Zealand from November 30, 2018, to May 23, 2019.
- He previously studied in Australia until 2017 but left without completing his engineering degree.
- The alleged hijacker reportedly used a crash axe and stabbed the pilot during the incident.
- Passengers and crew overpowered Hammami, and the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
- Multiple countries are investigating Hammami's background and intentions.
New Zealand authorities have opened their own investigation into Hamam al-Hammami, the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv on September 30. The investigation will scrutinize his time in New Zealand, where he underwent flight training for 175 days between November 2018 and May 2019 on a student visa. This comes after it was revealed Hammami had previously spent approximately two years in Australia as a student until 2017, leaving before completing his engineering degree.
During the September 30 incident, Hammami allegedly used a crash axe and stabbed the pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, in an attempt to take control of the aircraft carrying 182 people. Machchhar, despite his injuries, managed to allow passengers to overpower Hammami. A reserve pilot on board then took control of the plane and landed it in Saudi Arabia, where Hammami was detained. Israeli and other regional officials suspect the attack may have been planned for July but was postponed.
New Zealand police assistant commissioner Michael Johnson confirmed Hammami's presence and training in the country, stating he was with a UK-based company no longer operating in New Zealand. The investigation is part of a wider effort by multiple countries to piece together Hammami's background, intentions, and to determine if he acted alone. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has called for a thorough investigation into Hammami's associations in Australia, citing concerns about extremist influences.