Australia: Authorities are investigating the links to Australia of a flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of an Israel-bound flight, Australian police said.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprising the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, is examining the co-pilot’s connections to the country.
Two sources identified the co-pilot as an Omani national named Hamam Al-Hammami. Australian university RMIT confirmed that he had previously been enrolled at the institution but did not complete an engineering qualification.
The investigation follows the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Israel on September 30 with more than 170 passengers and crew on board.
What happened aboard the flydubai flight?
According to UAE prosecutors, the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack.
Passengers and crew members managed to subdue the co-pilot, while a reserve flydubai pilot who was travelling on the flight took control of the aircraft.
The plane subsequently landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities before being transferred to the United Arab Emirates.
Why is Australia investigating the co-pilot?
Australian authorities began examining the case after reports emerged that the co-pilot had studied in Melbourne. Sources said he attended a university in the city, while RMIT confirmed his previous enrollment.
The Financial Times separately reported that the man had allegedly visited extremist websites while in Australia and that Australian intelligence agencies had previously held a file on him. Reuters said it could not independently verify those claims.
The co-pilot remains in UAE custody. Authorities have not publicly announced formal charges or confirmed his legal representation.
The incident has also prompted Israeli authorities to review security procedures involving foreign civil aviation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the National Security Council to appoint an examiner to conduct a review of security arrangements concerning foreign civilian flights to Israel.