Australia Investigates Flydubai Co-Pilot’s Links to the Country
Australian authorities have launched an investigation into the possible links of the co-pilot involved in a recent Flydubai flight incident to Australia, police said on Sunday.
The investigation is being handled by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
An Australian Federal Police spokesperson said the team was examining the man’s connections to Australia. Sources familiar with the investigation said the co-pilot had studied at a university in Melbourne, with one source identifying the institution as RMIT University about a decade ago. RMIT did not comment on the matter.
The co-pilot was travelling on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday when he allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe. The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has described the incident as a terrorist attack.
The aircraft reportedly plunged about 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds before the crew regained control. An aviation instructor later recreated the descent in a flight simulator for Reuters and described the experience as similar to a sudden vertical roller coaster.
Co-Pilot Remains in UAE Custody
Sources identified the suspect as Omani national Hamam Al-Hamami, although neither UAE authorities nor Flydubai have publicly confirmed his identity.
The suspect is currently in UAE custody. No formal charges have been publicly announced, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation. Oman has also not issued a public statement regarding the incident.
The situation was brought under control after passengers and crew members restrained the co-pilot. Israeli officials said the incident appeared to involve an attempt to take control of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew members, most of them Israeli nationals.
A reserve Flydubai pilot who was travelling on the flight took over the aircraft and safely landed it at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot before he was transferred to the UAE on Thursday.
A Financial Times report, citing people familiar with the investigation, alleged that the suspect had visited mosques and extremist websites while in Australia. The report also claimed Australian intelligence agencies had previously maintained a file on him.
Reuters said it could not independently verify those claims. Australian authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment outside normal working hours.
Israel Orders Review of Foreign Flight Security
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a comprehensive review of security arrangements for international flights arriving in Israel following the incident.
His office said the head of the National Security Council had been instructed to appoint an examiner to review security procedures related to foreign civil aviation.
The incident has also raised questions in Israel over how a pilot from Oman, a country that does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, came to operate a flight bound for Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu has previously said pilots from countries considered hostile to Israel were not permitted to operate flights to the country. The circumstances surrounding the co-pilot’s assignment to the flight remain under investigation.
Transport Minister Miri Regev rejected responsibility for the security lapse, saying security arrangements for foreign airlines fall under the authority of Israel’s intelligence agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet.
A 2024 report by Israel’s state comptroller had already highlighted unclear responsibilities for the security of foreign airlines and recommended improvements.
Israeli media has also reported that pilots from countries viewed as hostile to Israel have operated flights into the country in recent years.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticised the government’s decision to launch another security review, calling it inadequate and arguing that the incident exposed serious failures.
Gadi Eisenkot, a prominent political challenger to Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 election, also criticised the transport ministry and said the circumstances would normally warrant the transport minister’s resignation.
