Australian law enforcement and security agencies have launched an inquiry into the background of a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to seize control of a passenger jet bound for Israel, focusing on the man's previous connections to the country. The investigation was confirmed by the Australian Federal Police, which stated that it is examining the suspect's links to Australia in coordination with state police and the nation's domestic security organisation. Authorities indicated that further details would be released when deemed appropriate.
The co-pilot has been accused of assaulting the flight's captain with a crash axe during a journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv, an attack that was ultimately thwarted when passengers intervened and managed to subdue him. Although Australian officials have not publicly named the suspect, several major international media organisations, including Reuters, CNN and The New York Times, have identified him as Hamam al-Hammami.
The dramatic sequence of events unfolded on 30 September during a flight carrying more than 170 passengers to Israel. According to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general, roughly two and a half hours into the journey, the aircraft suddenly dropped approximately 17,000 feet (5,200 metres) after the co-pilot attacked the pilot with the axe. The captain, identified as Smit Machchhar, has recounted how he lay injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the plane was descending and that he needed to act urgently.
In his account, Machchhar described summoning the strength for what he called one final effort to open the cockpit door from the inside, which allowed passengers to enter and help regain control of the situation. Two reserve pilots who were on board subsequently landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. The captain, an Indian national, was taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in a stable condition.
The co-pilot was arrested following the emergency landing and has been questioned by Saudi authorities, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also stated that the suspect was an Omani national. The United Arab Emirates' attorney general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said over the weekend that investigations are under way to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident, as well as any related connections.
Al Shamsi further stated that the inquiry had revealed the co-pilot attempted to carry out what he characterised as a "terrorist act", according to the country's state news agency. The allegation has raised serious questions about aviation security and the vetting processes that allow cockpit crew to operate commercial flights, particularly on routes serving regions with heightened geopolitical tensions.
Since the attack, additional information has emerged regarding the co-pilot's employment history. US media outlets have reported that while he worked at another airline, Oman Air, he was removed from flight training due to concerns about his radical views and was instead reassigned to a different role within the national carrier. The disclosure has prompted scrutiny of how airline screening and internal threat assessments function across the industry.
The suspect's connection to Australia forms a central element of the emerging investigation. Sources familiar with the case who have spoken to Australian media said he was granted a student visa in 2014 and studied in the country between 2015 and 2017 before departing. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the student visa was cancelled in 2019 because he was no longer enrolled in a course, rendering him ineligible to hold it.
According to the ABC, counter-terrorism officials will examine whether the man was radicalised while in Australia, a line of inquiry that underscores broader concerns about the potential for extremist influence to take root during periods of overseas study. Investigators are expected to review his activities, associates and any institutional contacts during his time in the country.
In addition to his Australian studies, it is known that from 2020 the co-pilot was enrolled in a distance-learning programme run by Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom. The university has confirmed that he graduated with a degree in aviation management in 2023, while stressing that he did not undertake any pilot training at the institution. The distinction is significant because it means the university's oversight did not extend to practical flight instruction.
The flight involved, Flydubai service FZ1073, departed Dubai at 03:05 GMT and headed north-west across Saudi Arabia towards Israel. Near the Israel-Jordan border, the aircraft declared a general emergency at 05:31 and issued a hijacking alert at 05:38 before turning away from Tel Aviv. The plane then diverted south and landed at Tabuk Airport in north-west Saudi Arabia at 06:58.
The incident has drawn attention from multiple governments and raised pressing questions about international cooperation in aviation security. With the suspect's past spanning several countries, including Oman, Australia and the United Kingdom, the case highlights the challenges authorities face in tracking individuals who move across jurisdictions during their education and early careers.
For Australia, the investigation represents a test of how effectively its visa and security screening systems identify potential risks posed by individuals who enter the country as students. The fact that the co-pilot's visa was cancelled years before the attack may also prompt debate over whether more should have been done to monitor him after he left Australia.
The outcome of the UAE's investigation into motives and any possible networks behind the attack will be closely watched, as will the findings of the Australian inquiry into the man's links to the country. Together, these parallel investigations are likely to inform future policy discussions on aviation security, radicalisation and international intelligence sharing.
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