The co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack and crash an Israel-bound passenger jet began drifting towards extremism while studying in Melbourne almost a decade ago, according to the United Arab Emirates’ top prosecutor.

Hamam al-Hammami had given a ‘detailed confession’ following his arrest over the September 30 terror plot, UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al Shamsi said in a statement.

Al Shamsi said that during al-Hammami’s time in Melbourne he became acquainted with individuals linked to an Islamic centre.

‘The findings indicated that signs of his drift towards extremism and terrorism first emerged in 2017, while he was studying in Australia,’ Al Shamsi said. 

‘During that period, he was influenced by Takfiri ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks.

‘This influence subsequently developed into the adoption of ideas advocating violence and terrorism. 

‘He also drew inspiration from the 11 September 2001 attacks, and the idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking.’

Takfir is the act of one Muslim declaring another a non-believer, an extremist doctrine sometimes used as a justification for violence.

Hamam al-Hammami (pictured) began drifting towards extremism while studying in Melbourne almost a decade ago, according to a top United Arab Emirates prosecutor

Footage filmed by passengers shows wounded captain Smit Machchhar lying on the floor as others tend to him

The Emirates News Agency reported al-Hammami admitted regularly attending a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

‘Through these visits, he became acquainted with individuals associated with a centre known as “My Centre”,’ the agency stated on Saturday. .

‘He also said that he had prepared himself both psychologically and physically to carry out the plot by intensifying his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.’

Daily Mail has contacted My Centre for comment. 

Al-Hammami had allegedly planned to crash Flydubai flight 1073 into a terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport

He allegedly wounded captain Smit Machchhar using an onboard crash axe as he tried to take control of the plane on its way to Tel Aviv.

Passengers and crew grappled with the Omani national to regain control of the aircraft, which plummeted 14,000ft in just 29 seconds.

Mr Machchhar was praised for saving the lives of those 172 passengers on board. While cruising mid-air, the hero was able to fight off his co-pilot in the cockpit and his attempts to sabotage the plane’s systems.

Al-Hammami (above) used the cockpit’s crash axe in his attempt to take control of the Flydubai plane 

Distressing footage showed Mr Machchhar lying on the ground covered in blood as passengers tended to his injuries, while another pilot appeared to be lying nearby, seemingly unconscious. 

Passengers can be heard telling one of the men: ‘You saved the plane.’ 

Al Shamsi said investigations had revealed al-Hammami used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to ‘familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport’.

The alleged hijacker attempted to take control of the plane ‘with the intention of causing the greatest possible number of human casualties’.

Al-Hammami ‘admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others,’ Al Shamsi said, adding he ‘provided a detailed confession outlining his motives and the stages of planning and execution’ in the presence of his lawyer.

Investigators examined Flydubai’s recruiting procedures and found al-Hammami had met all professional and security requirements, including holding a pilot’s licence and providing a certificate of good conduct.

‘However, none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist plot,’ Al Shamsi said.

Al Shamsi said the suspect had told investigators he had prepared psychologically and physically for the attack by viewing material promoting terrorism and taking boxing lessons.

The co-pilot had previously worked with Oman’s national airline as a trainee in 2024 but was removed from flying because of concerns that he may have been influenced by radical groups. He was then moved to an administrative job at Oman Air.

Al Hammami was later hired by UAE-based airline Flydubai in January this year, but it was not immediately clear to what extent the co-pilot was vetted.

Royal Air Maroc confirmed that Al Hammami had undergone three months’ training with the airline in 2025, but his application to work there afterwards was rejected.

Al Hammami was born in the UAE, and his mother is Syrian. He obtained Omani nationality from his father.