Australian authorities are investigating the connections of a flydubai co-pilot to Australia after he allegedly attacked the captain on a flight bound for Tel Aviv. The incident, described by UAE prosecutors as a "terrorist attack," led to the diversion of flight 1073 from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport.
The co-pilot has been identified by sources as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. While UAE authorities did not immediately confirm his identity, two sources briefed on the investigation indicated that al-Hammami had studied at a university in Melbourne, Victoria. Reports from local media suggest his studies were at RMIT University, though the institution declined to comment.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), a collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), confirmed its involvement. A spokesperson for the AFP stated, "The VIC JCTT... can confirm it is investigating the man's links to Australia. An update will be provided at an appropriate time."
Citing individuals familiar with the investigation, The Financial Times reported that al-Hammami allegedly frequented radical mosques and accessed extremist websites during his time in Australia. The newspaper also stated that Australian intelligence services had a file on the individual. Reuters has not independently verified these claims, and the Australian government has not yet issued a comment outside of standard business hours.
Flydubai has confirmed that a comprehensive investigation into the incident is currently underway. The airline has not provided further details regarding the co-pilot or the specific circumstances of the attack.
