Flydubai co-pilot began radicalisation in Australia, UAE prosecutors say

<p>Hammam al-Hammami’s shift towards extremism began while he was a student in Melbourne, according to Emirati attorney general</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The co-pilot who tried to seize control of a flydubai jet flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv last week had been radicalised while studying in Australia, prosecutors in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/united-arab-emirates">United Arab Emirates</a> said on Friday.</p><p>Passengers and crew on the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/30/whoever-is-hearing-me-we-need-help-how-flight-1073-survived-its-5000-metre-plunge">30 September flight</a>, which had 182 people onboard, intervened to stop 29-year-old Omani national Hammam al-Hammami’s alleged attempt to hijack the plane on its way to Israel.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/10/flydubai-co-pilot-radicalisation-australia-uae-prosecutors-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>