Full Breakdown
Melbourne Islamic Centre Leader Denies Links to Flydubai Co-pilot Amid Terror Investigation
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Connection and Flight Incident
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai for Tel Aviv with 182 people aboard. The 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, used an emergency axe to attack Indian captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit. Passengers, crew and a second pilot restrained the assailant and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutor findings allege al-Hammami became acquainted with a Melbourne-based Islamic youth centre, My Centre (also called the Multicultural Youth Centre), run by Samir Mohtadi, known as Abu Hamza.
Background: Radicalisation Claims
The UAE attorney-general’s statement says al-Hammami was enrolled at RMIT from 2015 to 2017, during which he allegedly read extremist material and trained in boxing. Australian authorities launched a joint counter-terrorism investigation, confirming his student visa and a flight-training stint in New Zealand. New Zealand police opened a parallel inquiry.
Key Figures
- Hammam al-Hammami – Omani co-pilot, alleged attacker.
- Samir Mohtadi / Abu Hamza – Leader of My Centre in Broadmeadows, Melbourne.
- Hamad Saif al-Shamsi – UAE Attorney-General, source of the radicalisation allegations.
- Smit Machchhar – Indian captain, wounded defending the cockpit.
- Isaac Herzog – President of Israel, who sent a gratitude letter to Captain Machchhar.
Official Statements & Responses
- The UAE attorney-general said al-Hammami “admitted he acted alone” and claimed he was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the co-pilot was “radicalised online” and that the government is reviewing border-screening procedures.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote to Captain Machchhar, praising his “courage and determination.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The statement did not confirm whether al-Hammami ever attended the centre or met Mohtadi in person. Australian and New Zealand investigations have not released findings on any direct contact.
Data & Statistics
- 182 people (174 passengers, 8 crew) were on board Flight FZ1073.
- The attack occurred at approximately 14,000 feet altitude, causing a rapid descent of about 4,900 metres in 30 seconds.
- The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after passenger and crew intervention.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores vulnerabilities in airline crew vetting and raises concerns about community-level scrutiny of Muslim organisations in Australia. Ongoing investigations in the UAE, Australia and New Zealand aim to clarify any radicalisation pathways and inform future aviation security policies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Your ability to find the strength to rise above the pain, to combat the immediate threat to your life, and to operate sound judgment demonstrates the strength of your character and the great valor you possess,” — Isaac Herzog, Israeli president
- “Both in my work and the work of the centre have always focused on promoting peace, harmony, mutual respect and community wellbeing. We unequivocally reject violence in all its forms,” — Samir Mohtadi