Flydubai hijacker linked to extremist rhetoric during university studies
Hamam al-Hammami, who attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight and injured the captain with an axe, reportedly expressed extremist views and advocated for violence against women while attending a British university. Reports confirm he was a student at the time he made these statements.
First reported 3 hours ago · latest update 1 hour ago
A social media account believed to be linked to Hamam al-Hammami repeatedly mentions ‘stomping on’ women. Photo / X
The co-pilot accused of an attempted jihadist terror attack on an Israel-bound plane advocated violence against women and called for severe religious punishments while studying aviation at a British university, The Telegraph can reveal.
Hamam al-Hammami, 29, the co-pilot being held in Abu Dhabi after the suspected hijacking on Wednesday, said women should be “stomped on” and praised giving a woman a “pre-emptive slap” in social media posts made while he was enrolled at Buckinghamshire New University (BNU).
He also appeared to praise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Hammami, an Omani national, was studying for a three-year distance-learning degree in aviation management at the university in High Wycombe, graduating in 2023. He is believed to have taken part in the course remotely from Muscat.
On the day of the attack, BNU said its licence to sponsor international students had been suspended by the Home Office over concerns about its compliance with sponsorship duties.
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Flydubai hijacker’s hateful rants while studying at British university
An account linked to Hammami praised violence against women during his studies.
3 hours ago · Janet Eastham, Camilla Turner, and Lily ShanagherFlydubai hijacker called for women to be 'stomped on' in religious rants while studying at British university
Hamam al-Hammami, 29, severely wounded captain Smit Machchhar using the onboard crash axe as he tried to take control of the Flydubai plane on its way to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
1 hour ago