Australia Investigates Copilot's Radicalization Path

Australian authorities are investigating the background of Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani copilot suspected of attempting to cause a Flydubai plane crash en route from Dubai to Israel. The investigation aims to determine if al-Hammami's radicalization process began during his stay in Australia approximately a decade ago. The Australian Federal Police confirmed to the BBC that they are conducting an inquiry into al-Hammami in collaboration with the Australian National Security Agency. Sources close to the investigation revealed that al-Hammami obtained a student visa in 2014 and traveled to Australia for studies, residing there from 2015 to 2017 before departing. Australian broadcaster ABC reported that his student visa was revoked in 2019 after he was no longer enrolled in an educational institution. Investigators are focusing on whether al-Hammami's contacts with Muslim organizations and immigrants in Australia during that period contributed to his ideological development and the attempted attack on the aircraft. Additionally, it was revealed that al-Hammami remotely pursued a course from Buckinghamshire New University in the UK starting in 2020, earning a degree in aeronautical management in 2023. The university stated he did not undertake any pilot training there.