Australia probes Flydubai co-pilot links amid attack
Australian authorities investigate links to Flydubai co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami following an axe attack on a flight to Tel Aviv on 30 September.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Australian authorities investigate links to Flydubai co-pilot over cockpit attack
- The incident occurred on a 30 September flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- The co-pilot has been identified by multiple outlets as Hamam al-Hammami
- He previously studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017 before visa cancellation
Australian security authorities are currently investigating potential links between the country and a Flydubai co-pilot who attempted to seize control of an international commercial flight bound for Israel. The high-altitude incident unfolded on a flight carrying more than 170 passengers departing from Dubai toward Tel Aviv on 30 September.
According to reports, the co-pilot assaulted the captain using a crash axe mid-flight, causing the aircraft to experience a severe plunge. Passengers and crew members managed to overpower the attacker and regain control of the aircraft, which eventually executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia safely handled by two reserve pilots.
The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general stated that two and a half hours into the journey, the plane dropped 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) following the assault. Capt Smit Machchhar, the injured pilot flying the aircraft, described lying on the cockpit floor and realizing he had to fight back to survive, managing to push open the door from the inside to let passengers come to his aid.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside"
Capt Smit Machchhar
Media outlets including Reuters, CNN, and The New York Times identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he was an Omani national. The UAE prosecutor stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover the exact motives and circumstances surrounding the violent episode.
Mid-air cockpit security breaches represent rare and critical aviation emergencies that severely test global transport safety protocols. Such incidents compel international authorities and intelligence agencies to scrutinize crew background checks, psychological evaluations, and indicators of radicalization. This underscores the urgent need for airlines worldwide to continuously reinforce security measures and cockpit access protocols to protect passengers and crew from unforeseen insider threats.
Background checks revealed that al-Hammami was issued an Australian student visa in 2014 and studied in the country between 2015 and 2017. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that his student visa was subsequently cancelled in 2019 because he was no longer enrolled in an eligible course. Counter-terrorism officials are now reviewing whether he may have been radicalized during his time in Australia.
Further details regarding his employment history show he previously worked for Oman Air, where U.S. media reported he was removed from flight training due to concerns over extreme views. Additionally, he completed a distance-learning aviation management degree from Buckinghamshire New University in the UK in 2023, though the university confirmed he received no pilot training at their institution.
Source: BBC World
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