Flydubai co-pilot began radicalisation in Australia, UAE prosecutors say
Quick Look
- UAE prosecutors stated that the co-pilot who attempted to seize control of a flydubai jet from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 had been radicalized while studying at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
- The 29-year-old Omani national, Hammam al-Hammami, was stopped by passengers and crew.
- He allegedly adopted extremist ideology through online content and literature, drew inspiration from the 9/11 attacks, and trained in boxing to prepare for the plot.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The incident occurred on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, carrying 182 passengers and crew. The co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, allegedly attempted to seize control of the aircraft. Passengers and crew intervened to stop him. UAE prosecutors stated his radicalization began during his studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, where he was exposed to extremist literature and online content glorifying terrorism.
The co-pilot who tried to seize control of a flydubai jet flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv last week had been radicalised while studying in Australia, prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates said on Friday.
Passengers and crew on the 30 September flight, which had 182 people onboard, intervened to stop 29-year-old Omani national Hammam al-Hammami’s alleged attempt to hijack the plane on its way to Israel.
Dr Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, attorney general of the UAE, said al-Hammami’s shift towards extremism and terrorism began while he was studying at RMIT University in Melbourne.
During his time in Melbourne, he was influenced by the hardline takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks, the attorney general said.
The statement was shared on UAE government social media and first reported by the state-run Emirati news agency, known as WAM.
According to the statement, al-Hammami allegedly told prosecutors he adopted ideas advocating violence and terrorism and drew inspiration from the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001.
“The idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking,” the statement said.
Al-Hammami allegedly prepared himself both psychologically and physically to carry out the alleged terror plot by intensifying his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.
On Monday, RMIT University confirmed that he had studied at its Melbourne campus, but “did not successfully complete an engineering qualification”. Guardian Australia sought further comment from the university on Saturday.
Last weekend, Australian security agencies launched an investigation after it emerged al-Hammami spent about two years in the country as a student until 2017.
More details soon …
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Australian authorities will release findings from their investigation into al-Hammami's activities during his time in the country.
Likely · Within weeks
The UAE may call for enhanced international cooperation on monitoring extremist content online and screening students from certain regions.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific extremist content influenced al-Hammami?
- Did he have any known connections to terrorist organizations?
- What was the exact nature of his boxing training and psychological preparation?
- How did Australian security agencies become aware of his presence in the country?