New Zealand and Australia Investigate Pilot's Terror Attempt on Flydubai Flight

New Zealand authorities have launched their own investigation into Hammam al-Hammami, a Flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a flight carrying Israelis and carry out a terror attack in Tel Aviv. According to New Zealand police, al-Hammami underwent flight training in the country for approximately six months, from November 30, 2018, to May 23, 2019, after abandoning his studies in Australia. He trained with a British company that subsequently ceased operations in New Zealand. Investigators are now examining al-Hammami's past, his contacts, and signs of radicalization.

Australian intelligence agencies also initiated a similar investigation after it was revealed that al-Hammami had spent about two years in Australia as a student at Melbourne's Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, studying engineering before leaving without completing his degree. This investigation followed a call from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for a thorough probe into the terrorist's connections in the country. "For many years, we have observed the availability of extremist literature in religious bookstores, the presence of preachers of hatred and violence," stated co-director Alex Rivchin, urging authorities to determine who was connected to al-Hammami and who influenced him.

In addition to New Zealand and Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are also involved in investigating the attempted terror attack on the Flydubai flight. A key question remains whether al-Hammami acted alone or had accomplices in planning the attack. Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its supporters to carry out attacks on flights with Americans and Israelis.