The Aporia · Alleged flydubai attacker left Australia without finishing engineering course, university says

RMIT University in Melbourne confirmed that Hammam al-Hammami, identified by media as the flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack an Israel-bound flight on September 30, studied there but left before completing his engineering course. The Australian federal police are investigating al-Hammami’s time in Australia, including his visa status and connections. RMIT stated it cannot provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.

Written by AI on 2026-10-05, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled an emergency and was diverted to land at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. The incident initially raised concerns about a possible hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble warplanes. However, Israeli officials later reported that the emergency signals were due to a physical altercation between the plane's two pilots rather than a hijacking attempt.

The flight, identified as Flydubai Flight FZ1073, transmitted multiple emergency alerts after takeoff and over Jordanian airspace before landing safely in Saudi Arabia. Passengers on board managed to overpower the attacker, who was later identified by UAE officials as Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. Al-Hammami allegedly attempted to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's airport but was stopped by passengers.

UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi stated that signs of al-Hammami’s radicalization first emerged in 2017 while he was studying engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He reportedly became influenced by extremist literature and online content glorifying terrorist organizations during this period.

Written for “Flydubai Hijacker's Radicalization Path” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 345 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Flydubai Hijacker's Radicalization Path

Crime & Law · 346 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads unscored and hedges 14% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing captain identified as 29-year-old Omani national Same event

Fox News

Hedges 3 of 11 claims Outlet record 69/100

Flydubai co-pilot attempted 'terrorist attack,' UAE says Same event

Deutsche Welle

Hedges 3 of 16 claims Outlet record 95/100

Flydubai attacker began a 'drift towards extremism and terrorism' in Australia, UAE says Same event

BBC News

Hedges 4 of 17 claims Outlet record 68/100

'Religious extremist' who attacked colleague and tried to crash FlyDubai plane is Omani national who studied remotely at British university - as it's revealed he used an AXE Different event

Daily Mail

Hedges 6 of 25 claims Outlet record 68/100

“The articles describe different aspects of the incident, but Article B specifically mentions the hijacking attempt on September 30th, while Article A does not mention this specific date or confirm it as part of the same event.”

Who is Hamam Al Hammami? FlyDubai pilot who ‘stabbed captain and tried to hijack plane’ studied at British university Same event

Evening Standard

Hedges 2 of 13 claims Outlet record 65/100

Flydubai hijacker called for women to be 'stomped on' in religious rants while studying at British university Different event

Daily Mail

Hedges 4 of 37 claims Outlet record 68/100

“The articles describe different aspects of Hammam al-Hammami's educational background, one at a British university and the other at an Australian institution.”

Co-pilot accused of trying to hijack flydubai plane likely acted alone: Reports Same event

The Hindu

Hedges 2 of 16 claims Outlet record 60/100

UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act' Different event

Dawn

Hedges 3 of 10 claims Outlet record 72/100

“While both articles discuss the same incident involving a co-pilot's alleged attack on a flight to Israel, Article B focuses on the educational background of the accused individual and does not describe the specific event itself.”

Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK university Different event

The Independent

Hedges 9 of 43 claims Outlet record 59/100

“The articles describe different aspects of the co-pilot's academic history at separate universities in different countries.”

Investigators say flydubai pilot's 'drift towards terrorism' started in Australia Different event

ABC News (AU)

Hedges 4 of 23 claims Outlet record 68/100

“While both articles discuss the alleged hijacking attempt by Hammam al-Hammami, they describe different aspects of the overall incident. Article A focuses on his educational background in Australia and the events during the flight, whereas Article B discusses the timing and origins of his alleged drift towards extremism.”

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Nino Bucci

10 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 The decision in Erin Patterson’s appeal against her triple murder conviction will be handed down on Friday, with Victoria’s highest court also set to rule on whether she could face more time in prison.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Erin Patterson to learn fate in appeal against mushroom murders convictions

🔮 In the legislative council on Wednesday, John Ruddick, a Libertarian MP, said he backed what Greens MP Dr Amanda Cohn said in supporting the bill: he thought it was likely he would choose terramation over a burial plot or cremation.

2026-10-21 · assertive framing · NSW passes ‘human compost’ laws with several MPs saying they will utilise practice after they die

🔮 He will be held overnight to appear at Wangaratta magistrates court on Wednesday, Victoria police confirmed in a statement, adding that it would be alleged the attack was targeted. Victoria police arrested the 43-year-old Tarrawingee man on Monday afternoon after he allegedly struck the independent MP for Indi with a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta in northern Victoria.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Brendan Nugent facing three charges over alleged attack on MP Helen Haines

🔮 When Haines posted on X about an ABC QandA episode, Nugent wrote “Would’ve been nice to include a politician who takes climate change seriously, such as yourself”.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Brendan Nugent named as driver apprehended over alleged attack on Helen Haines

🔮 In June, he successfully applied to vary his bail so he could attend the opening of the Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · ‘It’s about the underdog’: Ben Roberts-Smith launches brand to support family amid legal battle

🔮 Australian security agencies launched an investigation after it emerged al-Hammami spent about two years in the country, with New Zealand authorities also examining his time there between November 2018 and May 2019.

2026-10-12 · mixed framing · Melbourne Islamic leader silent on centre’s alleged Flydubai hijacker links in Facebook video

🔮 “An update will be provided at an appropriate time.”

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Alleged flydubai attacker left Australia without finishing engineering course, university says

🔮 “At this stage it is unclear whether these shortcomings would have made any difference to the tragic outcome in this case,” Imrie told the inquest.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · Victoria police apologise over death of injured man taken to cells instead of hospital

🔮 “IBAC will allege that the Detective Senior Constable unlawfully punched and kicked the teenager multiple times, following the teen’s arrest, while they were handcuffed and compliant,” the statement said.

2026-09-18 · assertive framing · Victorian police officer charged after allegedly punching and kicking handcuffed teenager during arrest

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2026-10-28 · The Guardian

NSW passes ‘human compost’ laws with several MPs saying they will utilise practice after they die

2026-10-21 · The Guardian

Brendan Nugent facing three charges over alleged attack on MP Helen Haines

2026-10-20 · The Guardian

Brendan Nugent named as driver apprehended over alleged attack on Helen Haines

2026-10-20 · The Guardian

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

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Adeshola Ore

4 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 “As Helen takes the time she needs to recover, we will take time to look after ourselves and one another, too.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Helen Haines’s condition improves days after losing both legs from alleged attack

🔮 “An update will be provided at an appropriate time.”

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Alleged flydubai attacker left Australia without finishing engineering course, university says

🔮 “The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, can confirm it is investigating the man’s links to Australia,” an AFP spokesperson said. “An update will be provided at an appropriate time.”

2026-10-04 · assertive framing · Flydubai co-pilot’s time in Australia being investigated by security agencies after alleged cockpit attack

Also by Adeshola Ore

Helen Haines’s condition improves days after losing both legs from alleged attack

2026-10-24 · The Guardian

Flydubai co-pilot’s time in Australia being investigated by security agencies after alleged cockpit attack

2026-10-04 · The Guardian

Women hospitalised and three men charged with assault and choking after separate home invasions in Sydney

2026-10-02 · The Guardian

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

An Australian university has confirmed a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly tried to hijack an Israel-bound flight studied at its Melbourne campus, but left before completing his qualification. uncertain

who → confirm → qualification

Disaster was narrowly averted on 30 September when passengers and crew intervened to stop the alleged attempt of the co-pilot, identified by media outlets as Hammam al-Hammami, to take control of a flight to Tel Aviv with 182 people onboard. asserted

passengers → avert → people

The United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general said the co-pilot allegedly used a crash axe in the attempted “terrorist attack”, in which the pilot was stabbed mid-air. uncertain

pilot → say → which

Numerous media outlets have named the co-pilot al-Hammami, an Omani national. asserted

outlets → name → pilot

On Monday, the RMIT university in Melbourne said in a statement that it “is aware of media reporting of a former student alleged to be involved in the Flydubai flight incident”. asserted

it → say → incident

“The individual was enrolled at RMIT but did not successfully complete an engineering qualification,” the university “As this is an ongoing investigation, the University is unable to provide further comment.” asserted

University → enrol → comment

Former RMIT engineering students contacted by Guardian Australia said they did not remember al-Hammami. asserted

they → contact → Hammami

RMIT university’s confirmation came after the Australian federal police (AFP) on Sunday said agencies were investigating the man’s time in the country. asserted

agencies → come → country

A source familiar with the case, but not authorised to speak publicly, has said the man was granted an Australian student visa in 2014, before arriving in the country to commence a university course the next year. asserted

man → authorise → course

He left Australia in 2017, and his visa was cancelled in 2019 after authorities confirmed he was no longer enrolled in the course, the source said. asserted

source → leave → course

The AFP on Sunday said multiple agencies – including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) – were probing the man’s connections to the country. asserted

agencies → say → country

“The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, can confirm it is investigating the man’s links to Australia,” an AFP spokesperson said. asserted

spokesperson → comprise → Australia

“An update will be provided at an appropriate time.” asserted

update → provide → time

Court records and previous media reporting show that a number of Australians charged with terror offences or suspected of Islamic extremism studied at RMIT around the same time as al-Hammami, but there was no indication he knew any of these individuals. asserted

he → show → individuals

A British university, Buckinghamshire New University, has confirmed a student named Hamam al-Hammami had “previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management”. asserted

student → confirm → management

It added: “He did not undertake any pilot training at the university.” asserted

He → add → university

A flydubai spokesperson on Saturday said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation and the airline was not in a position to comment further. asserted

airline → say → position

The airline’s flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv were suspended after the attack. asserted

flights → suspend → attack

The Omani co-pilot and the flight’s Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, were taken to the UAE, as it leads the investigation. asserted

it → take → investigation

Officials have said a number of countries including Israel are participating. asserted

number → say → Israel

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the co-pilot had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns he had adopted extremist views. asserted

he → report → views

He was then moved to an administrative job at Oman Air, according to the official, before being hired by the UAE-based budget airline flydubai. uncertain

He → move → airline

Alleged flydubai attacker left Australia without finishing engineering course, university says

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