Police investigating Flydubai co-pilot’s Australia ties | Aviation News
Australian Authorities Investigate Co-Pilot’s Links to Incident on Flydubai Flight
By Al Jazeera Staff
Published Oct. 4, 2026
Authorities are examining the connections of the co-pilot involved in a violent incident on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel. A spokesperson for the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team confirmed on Sunday that a multi-agency investigation is underway involving both Australian police and intelligence.
The co-pilot has been accused of attacking the captain with an axe and attempting to seize control of Flight FZ1073 as it neared Israel. Reports have identified him as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Details concerning his background and the circumstances of his presence in the cockpit are currently under scrutiny.
Sources have informed The Associated Press that al-Hammami had previously been prohibited from flying in Oman due to suspicions about his alleged extremist views. While he has spent considerable time in the United Arab Emirates, reports from Reuters indicate that al-Hammami studied at a university in Melbourne, Australia, approximately a decade ago. An unnamed source has identified RMIT University as the institution where he pursued his studies.
The Financial Times has also highlighted connections between al-Hammami and Australia, citing sources familiar with the investigation who claim he frequented “radical mosques and extremist websites” during his time in the country.
Passengers and crew members on the flight managed to subdue the co-pilot, allowing a reserve pilot to regain control and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, thus averting a potential disaster. The incident has raised significant questions regarding aviation security in Israel, which is known for its stringent safety measures.
UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi has classified the attack as an attempted “terrorist act.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel has longstanding protocols preventing pilots from nations without diplomatic ties from operating flights to Israel. However, he noted a “loophole” that permitted al-Hammami’s participation in the flight, vowing to enhance security checks in response.
The UAE has yet to disclose a motive for the attack or whether investigators believe al-Hammami acted independently. Anwar Gargash, a presidential adviser in the UAE, stated on Saturday that this incident serves as a reminder that the struggle against extremism in the region is far from over.
