Australian officials are probing the ties between the country and a Flydubai co-pilot accused of trying to seize control of a plane headed to Israel, according to multiple reports and official statements. The co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, before passengers subdued him and the plane was safely landed.
Authorities have not officially named the co-pilot but several media outlets, including Reuters, CNN, and The New York Times, identify him as Hamam al-Hammami. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed it is investigating “the man’s links to Australia,” involving state police and the national security agency, though further updates will be provided in due course.
Details of the Incident and Aftermath
The flight carried more than 170 passengers. Roughly two and a half hours into the journey, the plane unexpectedly dropped 17,000 feet after the co-pilot, described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an Omani national, attacked the captain with a crash axe. The captain, Smit Machchhar, later recounted how, despite being injured and on the floor, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.
Two reserve pilots took control and diverted for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was hospitalized and transferred to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported stable. The co-pilot was arrested by Saudi authorities and is undergoing questioning.
Investigation and Background Checks
The UAE prosecutor’s office is investigating the incident, motives, and any related links, indicating the event appears to be a “terrorist act.” Reports reveal that Al-Hammami previously worked for Oman Air but was removed from flight training due to concerns over radical views, receiving a different role within the airline. Since 2020, he pursued distance learning in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK, graduating in 2023, without pilot training at that institution.
Australian sources say the co-pilot was issued a student visa in 2014 and studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017 before leaving. His student visa was canceled in 2019 after he ceased enrollment. Counter-terrorism officials in Australia are examining whether he became radicalized during his time there.
Ongoing Developments
The situation remains under investigation by multiple nations’ authorities. Australian officials have not disclosed further details but emphasize their involvement in exploring any Australian connections. Meanwhile, the UAE continues inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the co-pilot’s background.
