Co-pilot's 'Jihadi' Intentions Under Scrutiny After Hijacking Attempt

A co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a flight from Dubai to Israel, with the stated intention of crashing it into a Tel Aviv landmark, had a history of extremist online activity and a confessed desire to become a martyr. The suspect, Hamam al-Hammami, underwent pilot training in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Al-Hammami, who is of Omani and Syrian descent, is alleged to have attacked the captain with a crash axe on a flight from Dubai to Israel. The aircraft reportedly fell 17,000 feet before being stabilized by off-duty pilots and landed in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami was taken into custody and has reportedly provided a confession to UAE prosecutors, stating he sought revenge for Gaza and wished to die a martyr. He also allegedly detailed intensifying his exposure to terrorism-promoting material and training in boxing.

In the lead-up to the incident, al-Hammami's now-deleted social media posts reportedly indicated anger, conservative Islamic views, misogyny, and hate speech. Investigators are examining whether these were warning signs of radicalization.

Al-Hammami's training path included time at the L3Harris Airline Academy near Gatwick Airport, which opened in 2019 and was attended by then-Prince Charles. The academy, now operated by Acron Aviation, offers accelerated pilot training programs. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Acron, the company declined to comment on al-Hammami due to the ongoing investigation.

During his time studying engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, between 2015 and 2017, al-Hammami reportedly visited radical mosques and frequented extremist websites. Australian authorities are investigating his activities there. He later undertook flight training in New Zealand with a UK-based company, understood to be L3Harris, between 2017 and 2019. He also completed a distance learning aviation course with Buckinghamshire New University in the UK, which focused on business and management aspects of the industry and did not involve flight training.

By 2021, al-Hammami's online posts revealed strict interpretations of Islam, along with statements on marriage, gender roles, and a rejection of what he termed 'temptations.' His language sometimes mirrored that of the 'manosphere,' a group of online male communities. Reports suggest he was barred from flying by Oman Air due to his views before being hired by flydubai.

Passengers on the flight described a chaotic scene, with one pilot being severely injured. Several passengers intervened to subdue the attacker. Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack, and questions are being raised about security protocols, particularly concerning pilots from countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel operating flights into the country.