Australia investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country

Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies have formally stepped into the international investigation surrounding a cockpit attack aboard a commercial airliner. The inquiry focuses on the local history of the co-pilot accused of attempting to seize control of a flight bound for Israel.

The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team—operating as a collaborative task force comprising the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation—confirmed it is examining the man's historical ties to the country. According to Australian media reports cited by international outlets, the individual was issued a student visa, resided in the country, and subsequently had that visa cancelled when his enrollment lapsed.

Cockpit Attack and Emergency Descent

The security incident unfolded aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on 30 September. The aircraft was carrying more than 170 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the violent assault occurred mid-flight.

According to statements from the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general, the co-pilot launched a surprise attack on Captain Smit Machchhar using a crash axe approximately two and a half hours into the journey. The captain recounted that the assailant had asked to perform a routine prayer before striking him from behind a short time later.

The physical struggle triggered a rapid descent, with the aircraft plunging thousands of feet before the injured captain managed to unlock the flight deck door from the inside. Passengers and crew rushed in to overpower the attacker, while two reserve pilots intervened to stabilize the aircraft and divert it for a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Flight Event / Metric	Reported Detail
Flight Route	Dubai to Tel Aviv (Flight FZ1073)
Date of Incident	30 September
Aircraft Descent	Plunged 17,000ft (5,200m)
Passenger Count	More than 170 passengers onboard
Destination After Diversion	Saudi Arabia

Victim Testimony and Repatriation Efforts

Captain Machchhar, an Indian national, sustained severe injuries during the cockpit confrontation. Speaking via telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video released by the prime minister's office, Machchhar described his desperate bid to save the flight.

"I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside"

Capt Smit Machchhar, Pilot, via BBC News and Yahoo

Following the emergency landing, Machchhar received hospital treatment before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he remains in a stable condition. Meanwhile, regional carriers have worked to manage passenger logistics. Israir operated a repatriation service carrying approximately 180 travellers, followed by a dedicated cargo flight transporting passengers' luggage into Israel.

Background, Vetting, and Radicalisation Scrutiny

Investigators across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are probing the suspect's background to determine his motives and potential external associations. Multiple media outlets identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national born to an Omani father and a Syrian mother who spent a portion of his youth in Syria during its civil war.

United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that preliminary findings indicate the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Further revelations regarding his employment history show he previously worked for Oman Air. US media reports indicate he was removed from flight duties at that carrier following concerns over extremist views discovered during digital monitoring, though he was subsequently reassigned to administrative roles after completing a deradicalisation programme.

Al-Hammami later relocated to the UAE and secured employment with Flydubai. Investigators are evaluating what vetting data was accessible to Flydubai, noting that Omani authorities received no formal international requests regarding his employment record. Additionally, academic records confirm he completed a distance-learning aviation management degree through Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom, though the institution clarified he underwent no pilot training on its campus.

Next Steps

The multi-jurisdictional investigation remains active and fluid. The Australian Federal Police indicated that further updates regarding the man's local links and potential radicalisation inquiry will be released at the appropriate time. Flydubai has suspended its Dubai–Tel Aviv services until further notice while local and international authorities continue their forensic and counter-terrorism assessments.