Alleged FlyDubai hijacker spent time in NZ, police say

The FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed his colleague in an attempt to seize an Israel-bound aircraft and crash it spent time 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 Smit Machchhar was seriously injured in the attack but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended more than 4000 metres, witnesses and Israeli authorities said.

New Zealand police said the co-pilot had also spent time in New Zealand and that the authorities would investigate.

Meanwhile, Australian security agencies are investigating the Omani pilot’s time in Australia around a decade ago, Australian Federal Police said.

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A police statement on Monday said a joint counterterrorism team, including federal and state police and Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, “is investigating the man’s links to Australia”.

- Additional reporting by 1News