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Flydubai Hijacker Trained in UK, Company Cooperates with Investigation
The terrorist pilot who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight and crash it into Ben Gurion Airport, identified as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam Al-Hamami, received professional flight training in the United Kingdom and New Zealand between 2018 and 2019. Al-Hamami trained at L3 Airline Academy, which operated facilities in both countries. New Zealand police confirmed he held a six-month student visa for flight training from November 2018 to May 2019. He also completed a distance learning degree in aviation management from Buckinghamshire New University between 2020 and 2023.
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What happened
- 01The Flydubai terrorist pilot, Hamam Al-Hamami, trained at L3 Airline Academy in the United Kingdom and New Zealand between 2018 and 2019.
- 02Al-Hamami confessed his motive for attempting to crash the flight into Ben Gurion Airport was revenge against Israel for actions in Gaza.
- 03The attempted hijacking of the Flydubai flight was thwarted by the actions of Indian pilot Smith Macher.
- 04Al-Hamami was dismissed from Oman Air in 2024 due to concerns regarding his religious extremism.
- 05Australian authorities are investigating whether Al-Hamami underwent radicalization while studying in Australia between 2015 and 2017.
- 06Israeli security forces are participating in the investigation in the United Arab Emirates.
- 07Israeli officials assess that Al-Hamami acted as a lone wolf, with no indications of Iranian involvement in the plot.
Al-Hamami was previously employed by Oman Air but was dismissed in 2024 due to concerns over religious extremism. His social media posts revealed extremist views, including support for violence, and he described his years of study in the West as the golden years of his religious commitment. Australian authorities are also investigating whether he became radicalized while studying in Australia from 2015 to 2017. Before joining Flydubai, Al-Hamami had researched airlines flying to Tel Aviv and planned the attack, stating his motive was revenge against Israel for its actions in Gaza.
The attempted hijacking was thwarted by the actions of the flight's Indian pilot, Smith Macher. Israeli security forces are participating in the investigation in the United Arab Emirates. Despite the suspect's background, Israeli officials maintain the assessment that Al-Hamami acted as a lone wolf, with no indications of Iranian involvement.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Kikar HaShabbat. Read Kikar HaShabbat’s originalThe coverage
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