In brief
Australian authorities are investigating Hamam al‑Hammami, a Flydubai co‑pilot who allegedly attacked the captain on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident prompted passengers to overpower him and the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. AFP is looking into his ties to Australia, where he held a student visa between 2015 and 2017, while counter‑terrorism officials assess potential radicalisation on Australian soil. The investigation is ongoing, with UAE and Saudi authorities also probing the events.
Australian authorities are investigating links between the country and Hamam al‑Hammami, the co‑pilot of a Flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attack on the captain.
The incident occurred on 30 September on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when passengers reportedly overpowered al‑Hammami in a panic after he struck the captain with a crash axe. A WhatsApp video circulated showing the chaotic cockpit and the subsequent emergency landing at Tabuk airport.
AFP confirmed the investigation covers the man’s ties to Australia, noting that he studied here on a student visa between 2015 and 2017. Counter‑terrorism officials will investigate whether he was radicalised on Australian soil.
UAE prosecutors and Saudi authorities are also probing the incident, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co‑pilot is Omani. The captain, Smit Machchhar, suffered injuries but is in stable condition and was later airlifted to Abu Dhabi.
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