Australia investigating Flydubai co-pilot’s links to country

Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating the potential Australian connections of the co-pilot of a FlyDubai aircraft that narrowly avoided a crash due to an alleged cockpit takeover. The incident, which occurred on a flight bound for Tel Aviv, involved co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami apparently attacking the captain and attempting to seize control of the commercial plane. The United Arab Emirates-led investigation considers this event a terrorist attack, with passengers and others having to intervene to subdue al-Hammami.

Reports suggest that al-Hammami's LinkedIn profile, which has since been deleted, indicated he had studied engineering at an Australian university. The Australian Financial Review reported he had been granted a student visa in 2014 and departed the country in 2019, according to an unnamed source. Following his time in Britain, al-Hammami reportedly earned a degree in aviation management from New Buckinghamshire University in 2023.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed on Sunday that the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is probing the pilot's possible domestic associations. The task force, comprising officers from the AFP, Victoria Police, and ASIO, stated that an update on the investigation would be provided at a suitable time. An Omani national, al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying with his nation's airline due to concerns over his extremist views.

He was subsequently transferred to an administrative role at Oman Air and later hired by FlyDubai, according to a regional official.

The extent of al-Hammami's screening during the hiring process remains unclear. Security agencies from four regional countries, including the United States and other Western allies, are collaborating to determine the co-pilot's motives, aided by Western governments. A spokesperson for FlyDubai stated that the airline could not comment beyond their official statements, acknowledging the numerous questions that remain in this stage.