The alleged attacker on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel received flight training in New Zealand after studying in Australia, authorities say. Prosecutors in the UAE have accused Hamam al-Hammami of using an axe to attack the captain of Flydubai flight 1073, attempting a terrorist act. He was fought off by the captain and overpowered by passengers before the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Michael Johnson of New Zealand Police confirmed the suspect was in New Zealand between November 2018 and May 2019 on a student visa. The co-pilot also trained in New Zealand for a UK-based company. New Zealand authorities are reviewing records of Hammami's time there. RMIT University in Melbourne stated Hammami was enrolled between 2015 and 2017 but did not complete an engineering qualification.
Hammami, identified as an Omani national held in the UAE, was interrogated by Israel's Shin Bet. Investigators are probing whether he acted alone. He was previously banned from flying by Oman over radicalisation concerns. The UAE asserts jurisdiction as the flight was registered in Dubai and Flydubai is owned by the Dubai government.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing