Flydubai hijacker was taught to fly in UK as chilling details emerge

His career path has taken him across several countries

Hamam al-Hammami, 29, is accused of stabbing the captain while on a flight bound for Israel, allegedly as part of an attempt to bring the aircraft down.

His path into aviation had taken him through several countries. Hammami studied engineering at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University in Australia between 2015 and 2017, although he did not complete the qualification.

He later pursued aviation studies in Britain, with Buckinghamshire New University previously confirming that he completed a distance-learning course in aviation management.

His professional pilot training followed between 2018 and 2019.

The Telegraph reports that Hammami trained with L3 Airline Academy, one of the UK's largest pilot-training companies at the time. 

L3 operated training centres in England and has since become part of Acron Aviation, which has said it is assisting investigators.

New Zealand police have confirmed details of his student visa

The training programme also involved a period in New Zealand. 

Police there confirmed on Tuesday that Hammami was granted a six-month student visa and travelled to the country around seven years ago to complete part of his flight training for a UK-based company. 

Authorities have not identified the company and are now examining how he spent his time there.

According to The Telegraph, L3's training system at the time allowed students to complete their ground training in Southampton before travelling to New Zealand to attend flight school.

The details have emerged as authorities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand work to piece together Hammami's movements and activities before the alleged attack.

Acron Aviation and the training companies connected to L3 are not accused of wrongdoing. Acron has said it is cooperating with the investigation.