Australian Authorities Investigate Flydubai Co-Pilot's Links to Country
An investigation has been launched into the alleged Flydubai hijacker's potential ties to Australia, including studies at a local university.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is investigating claims that the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight had links to Australia. Hammam Al Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, is alleged to have seriously injured the captain with an emergency axe before attempting to take control of the plane bound for Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Reports, citing a now-deleted LinkedIn profile, suggest Al Hammami may have studied engineering at an Australian university, though this could not be independently verified. The Australian Financial Review reported that a source familiar with the case indicated Al Hammami was granted a student visa in 2014, which ceased in 2019 after a routine check revealed he had left the country.
The investigation involves the AFP's Victorian counter-terrorism team, Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Media reports have also suggested Al Hammami studied remotely at a British university and spent time in Syria.
Earlier, it was reported that Al Hammami had previously worked with Oman's national airline but was removed from flying duties due to concerns about potential radicalization from his time in Syria. He was subsequently moved to an administrative role. A Gulf diplomat confirmed Al Hammami underwent standard security checks, which primarily focused on criminal convictions rather than radicalization.
A separate investigation led by the United Arab Emirates is working to determine if Al Hammami acted alone or had connections to extremist groups. The UAE attorney general stated that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist act.
Airlines are required to keep crash axes in the cockpit for emergency use. These are accessible to the crew but not passengers.
Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith stated the flight diverted due to a "safety incident" in the cockpit. A Flydubai spokesperson noted that the airline could not comment beyond official statements and acknowledged numerous unanswered questions.
The flight, carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. It transmitted a general emergency signal and briefly a code indicating unlawful interference or hijacking while in Saudi airspace. Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel amid the ongoing investigation.