Australian authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the flydubai co-pilot who attacked his captain during a flight bound for Israel. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes federal police, state police and the ASIO intelligence agency, is examining the man’s connections to Australia. Police confirmed this on Sunday.
Two sources familiar with the case said the co-pilot studied at a university in Melbourne. A third source named RMIT University and said he attended around a decade ago. RMIT confirmed he was enrolled but did not complete an engineering qualification. The university did not release his name or exact dates of study.
The incident occurred on flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday. The co-pilot, identified by sources as Omani national Hamam Al-Hammami, attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe. The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general described the event as a terrorist attack. More than 170 passengers and crew were on board, most of them Israeli nationals.
The plane plunged about 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds before the situation was brought under control. An aviation instructor who recreated the descent in a simulator said the experience would have felt like a vertical roller coaster. Passengers and crew managed to subdue the co-pilot. A reserve flydubai pilot who was travelling as a passenger then took control and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the man and later transferred him to the UAE.
Israeli officials confirmed the co-pilot is from Oman but have not named him publicly. UAE authorities and flydubai have also withheld his identity. Reuters could not reach Al-Hammami for comment. He remains in UAE custody. No formal charges have been announced and it is unclear whether he has legal representation. Oman has not issued any statement.
The Financial Times reported that Al-Hammami allegedly visited extremist websites while in Australia and that Australian intelligence held a file on him. Reuters could not independently verify that claim. The Australian government did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a thorough review of security measures for foreign civil aviation to Israel. Israel has no official diplomatic relations with Oman and does not normally allow pilots from such countries to operate flights to Tel Aviv. It remains unclear how this co-pilot was assigned to the route.
