New Zealand police probes flydubai hijacker's time spent in island country - report

Additionally, the New Zealand Herald reported that Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot whom Hammami attacked aboard the flydubai flight, had trained in the island country.

New Zealand Police are investigating flydubai co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami's time spent in the country, the New Zealand Herald reported on Monday morning, citing Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson.

“Police are aware the co-pilot spent time in New Zealand, and we are looking into the time he spent here, alongside other agencies where appropriate,” Johnson told local media. “We are unable to comment further at this time."

Additionally, the New Zealand Herald reported that Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot whom Hammami attacked aboard the flydubai flight, had trained in the island country.

Machchhar had reportedly trained with New Zealand's Mainland Air between 2008 and 2009, maintaining a relationship as an India-based recruitment agent.

The New Zealand Herald cited Mainland Air’s Chief Executive Philip Kean, who told the New Zealand Herald that Machchhar had trained with the airline between 2008 and 2009, maintaining a relationship as an India-based recruitment agent.

“They have incapacitation training for pilots as part of their training, but I don’t think they have stabbing,” Kean said, “when it happens, it's a whole different story, isn't it? You're sitting there with a knife in your stomach; it’s not a nice thing.”

Kean added that the "other pilots did a great job recovering the airplane and they were very lucky the airplane didn't fall apart," noting that he had messaged Machchhar after the attack, while he was recovering in the hospital.

Flydubai hijacker's years in Australia under scrutiny

On Sunday, the BBC reported that Australian law enforcement launched a broad security investigation into the country's links to Hammami.

Australian police confirmed in an official statement to the BBC on Sunday morning that they were conducting an in-depth investigation into the suspect's background.

The complex investigation is being carried out in cooperation with state police forces and the country's national security agency to trace his movements and activities in Australia.

Where did Hammami undergo ideological radicalization?

The main focus of Australian counterterrorism officials, according to a report by ABC, is determining whether Hammami underwent ideological radicalization while in the country.

Sources familiar with the case said Hammami, identified as an Omani citizen, stayed in Australia on a student visa issued to him in 2014. He studied in the country from 2015 to 2017, when he left.

ABC also reported that authorities ultimately canceled his visa in 2019 after determining he was no longer enrolled in active academic studies and had failed to meet the conditions of his stay.

The investigation into his past has taken on greater significance following the events of September 30. Hamami was arrested immediately after the emergency landing and is currently being questioned by Saudi authorities. On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates' attorney-general stated unequivocally that the incident constituted an attempted terrorist act.