The co-pilot accused of trying to hijack and crash an Israel-bound passenger plane began moving towards extremism while studying in Melbourne nearly a decade ago, according to the United Arab Emirates’ chief prosecutor.
Hamam al-Hammami made a “detailed confession” after his arrest in connection with the September 30 terror plot, UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al Shamsi said in a statement.
Al Shamsi said al-Hammami came into contact with people linked to an Islamic centre during his time in Melbourne.
“The findings indicated that signs of his drift towards extremism and terrorism first emerged in 2017, while he was studying in Australia,” Al Shamsi said.
“During that period, he was influenced by Takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks.
“This influence subsequently developed into the adoption of ideas advocating violence and terrorism.
“He also drew inspiration from the 11 September 2001 attacks, and the idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking.”
Takfir refers to one Muslim declaring another to be a non-believer. The extremist doctrine has at times been used to justify violence.
Hamam al-Hammami (pictured) reportedly began drifting towards extremism while studying in Melbourne nearly a decade ago, according to the UAE’s chief prosecutor
Passenger footage shows wounded captain Smit Machchhar lying on the floor while others attend to him
The Emirates News Agency reported that al-Hammami had regularly attended a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
“Through these visits, he became acquainted with individuals associated with a centre known as ‘My Centre’,” the agency said on Saturday.
“He also said that he had prepared himself both psychologically and physically to carry out the plot by intensifying his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.”
Our News Outlet has contacted My Centre for comment.
Al-Hammami allegedly planned to crash Flydubai flight 1073 into a terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
He is accused of attacking captain Smit Machchhar with an onboard crash axe as he attempted to seize control of the aircraft during its flight to Tel Aviv.
Passengers and crew members fought with the Omani national to regain control of the plane, which plunged 14,000ft in only 29 seconds.
Mr Machchhar was credited with saving the lives of the 172 passengers on board. While the aircraft was cruising, he managed to overpower his co-pilot in the cockpit and prevent further interference with the plane’s systems.
Al-Hammami (above) allegedly used the cockpit’s crash axe while attempting to take control of the Flydubai aircraft
Distressing footage showed Mr Machchhar lying on the floor covered in blood as passengers treated his injuries. Another pilot could be seen nearby, apparently unconscious.
Passengers can be heard telling one of the men: ‘You saved the plane.’
Al Shamsi said investigations had revealed al-Hammami used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to ‘familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport’.
The alleged hijacker attempted to take control of the plane ‘with the intention of causing the greatest possible number of human casualties’.
Al-Hammami ‘admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others,’ Al Shamsi said, adding he ‘provided a detailed confession outlining his motives and the stages of planning and execution’ in the presence of his lawyer.
Investigators examined Flydubai’s recruiting procedures and found al-Hammami had met all professional and security requirements, including holding a pilot’s licence and providing a certificate of good conduct.
‘However, none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,’ Al Shamsi said.
Al Shamsi said the suspect had told investigators he had prepared psychologically and physically for the attack by viewing material promoting terrorism and taking boxing lessons.
The co-pilot had previously worked with Oman’s national airline as a trainee in 2024 but was removed from flying because of concerns that he may have been influenced by radical groups. He was then moved to an administrative job at Oman Air.
Al Hammami was later hired by UAE-based airline Flydubai in January this year, but it was not immediately clear to what extent the co-pilot was vetted.
Royal Air Maroc confirmed that Al Hammami had undergone three months’ training with the airline in 2025, but his application to work there afterwards was rejected.
Al Hammami was born in the UAE, and his mother is Syrian. He obtained Omani nationality from his father.
