Australia investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country

Australian authorities are examining the connections between the government and a Flydubai co‑pilot who attempted to seize control of a flight bound for Israel. The co‑pilot is accused of attacking the captain with a claw axe during a Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv service before passengers subdued him and restored command of the aircraft. Australian officials have not publicly identified the co‑pilot, though several outlets—including Reuters, CNN and The New York Times—have named him as Hamam al‑Hammami. A UAE official told the BBC that the Emirates is investigating the incident and any conceivable motives. In a statement to the BBC, the Australian Federal Police confirmed its inquiry into “the man's links to Australia.” The probe involves federal police and the nation’s intelligence agency, with an update promised “at the due time.” Sources familiar with the matter, who have spoken to Australian media, said the co‑pilot received a student visa in 2014 and pursued studies in Australia from 2015 to 2017 before departing the country. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the visa was cancelled in 2019 because he was no longer enrolled in a course, rendering him ineligible. Counter‑terrorism specialists will assess whether the individual was radicalised while in Australia, the ABC added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the co‑pilot as an Omani national. The flight on 30 September carried more than 170 passengers toward Israel. Approximately two and a half hours after departure, the aircraft dropped 17,000 ft (5,200 m) when the Omani co‑pilot struck the captain with a claw axe, according to a UAE official. Captain Smit Machchhar, who was flying the plane, recounted lying injured on the floor before realising the aircraft was descending and deciding to act: “I told myself to go for 1 past propulsion to open the door from inside.” That maneuver allowed passengers to enter the cockpit, and two reserve pilots subsequently landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.