Alleged FlyDubai hijacker spent time in NZ, police say
Authorities in New Zealand and Australia are investigating the background of an Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a FlyDubai flight. The suspect spent time in both countries for flight training prior to the incident, which left the captain seriously injured.
Why it matters
The investigation highlights potential gaps in international aviation security and background screening processes for flight crew training.
A FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed his colleague in an attempt to <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/05/questions-swirl-about-how-flydubai-attacker-evaded-detection/">seize and crash an Israel-bound aircraft</a> spent almost six months in New Zealand. Omani national Hammam al-Hammami is currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates following the bloody attack. New Zealand-trained pilot <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/03/wounded-flydubai-captain-recounts-fight-to-save-passengers/">Smit Machchhar was seriously injured</a> in the attack but managed to <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/04/insider-threat-what-the-flydubai-attack-reveals-about-aviation-security/">open the cockpit door</a>, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended more than 4000m, witnesses and Israeli authorities said. Machchhar trained at Mainland Air in Dunedin for about 18 months in 2008 before returning to India to continue his aviation career.
Also covering this story
11 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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