Australian Authorities Probe Flydubai Co-Pilot’s Ties to Melbourne

Authorities in Australia have launched an investigation into the links between the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight bound for Israel and the country. A spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, a multi-agency police and intelligence unit, is leading the probe.

The inquiry focuses on the co-pilot, identified in media reports as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, who is accused of assaulting the captain with a crash axe and attempting to hijack Flight FZ1073 as it approached Israel. Significant questions remain regarding how he secured a cockpit seat despite a prior ban from flying in Oman due to concerns over extremist views.

While al-Hammami is known to have lived part of his life in the UAE, reports indicate he spent time in Australia. The Reuters news agency cited sources familiar with the investigation stating that he studied at a university in Melbourne approximately a decade ago. A separate source specified that he attended RMIT University, a public research institution in the city. Additionally, the Financial Times reported, citing sources, that al-Hammami allegedly visited radical mosques and accessed extremist websites during his stay in Australia.

The incident was resolved when passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, allowing a reserve pilot to complete an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Despite this successful outcome, the event has sparked concerns about aviation security in Israel, which maintains some of the strictest protocols globally.

UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi characterized the incident as an attempted terrorist act. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that while Israel has long-standing agreements to prevent pilots from nations without diplomatic ties with Israel from flying there, a loophole appears to have allowed al-Hammami to board the flight. Netanyahu announced that Israel would strengthen its security checks moving forward.

As of now, the UAE has not publicly confirmed a motive or determined whether the co-pilot acted alone. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash described the attack as a fresh warning that the region’s struggle against extremism remains unfinished.