Flydubai co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash a plane last week had completed part of his flight training in New Zealand several years ago, according to local police. The incident has drawn attention from authorities in multiple countries as investigators dig deeper into his background.
New Zealand police confirmed that the co-pilot stayed in the country between November 2018 and May 2019. He entered on a six-month student visa. Immigration records show he arrived on 30 November 2018 and left on 23 May 2019. Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson stated that the man was in New Zealand to finish a portion of his flight training for a UK-based company that no longer operates there. Police are now reviewing all available records and making further enquiries about his activities during that period.
The co-pilot was flying on flydubai flight FZ1073, which had left Dubai and was heading to Israel. During the journey he attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe. The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general described the event as a “terrorist attack.” The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an emergency signal and later reached Israel safely. Two sources identified the co-pilot as an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami. Israeli officials have confirmed he is from Oman but have not released his name. Neither the UAE authorities nor flydubai have publicly confirmed his identity. Reuters has been unable to contact him for comment while he remains in UAE custody.
A multi-agency Australian counterterrorism unit is also examining any possible links the man may have had with Australia. The investigation continues across several countries as officials try to understand his movements, training history, and possible motives.
The case has raised serious questions about aviation security and the background checks of flight crew members. New Zealand police stressed that their current work focuses only on verifying the period the co-pilot spent in their country and any relevant records from that time. Authorities in the UAE, Israel, and Australia are coordinating their own lines of enquiry. Families of passengers and crew have expressed relief that the plane landed safely despite the violent incident in the cockpit. Officials have not yet released a full timeline of events or any further personal details about the co-pilot beyond what has already been stated.
As the probe expands, more information is expected in the coming days about the flydubai co-pilot and the circumstances that led to the attack on board the aircraft.
