Omani Pilot Accused of Attempted Plane Hijacking Studied in Australia

New details have emerged in the investigation into an attempted attack by a Flydubai co-pilot on a flight bound for Israel, with investigators focusing on the suspect's time in Australia. Hamam Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani citizen, is accused of attacking the captain during the flight last month in an apparent attempt to crash the plane, possibly in Tel Aviv. UAE authorities have stated that Al-Hammami's radicalization process began during his studies in Melbourne between 2015 and 2017. According to UAE Attorney General Hamed Saif Al-Shamsi, Al-Hammami was exposed to ideas in Australia that inspired him to plan an attack modeled on the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. He reportedly chose a career in aviation to carry out his plan.

Al-Hammami studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and during that period, met individuals associated with a center known as My Centre, a Muslim youth center in the Melbourne suburbs that also functions as a mosque. This center is reportedly managed by Samir Mohtadi, also known as Abu Hamza, whom the suspect identified as the mosque's leader during questioning.

The Multicultural Youth Center, also known as My Centre, has been active for years in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Mohtadi has previously drawn criticism for controversial statements, including anti-Zionist remarks, comments on domestic violence, and reservations about COVID-19 vaccines. Mustafa Serikbi, manager of the Imams Council of Victoria, described the center as a community organization offering sports activities, drug support, and religious services, not an isolated fringe group. Mohtadi indirectly addressed the allegations in a Facebook video, suggesting that sometimes people become entrenched in their views and that it is sometimes best not to respond.

The case has also sparked political debate in Australia, particularly concerning immigration and student visas. Pauline Hanson, leader of the right-wing One Nation party, has been critical of the growing Muslim community and publicly attacked the public funding received by the Melbourne center in light of the allegations. The investigation in the UAE is ongoing, and the revelations raise new questions about Al-Hammami's past. However, the report cautions against drawing conclusions about the religious institution's responsibility without published evidence.