Australia investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country
BBC News 2026-10-04 06:19:17
Context: Australian authorities are investigating the ties between the country and a Flydubai co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, who attempted to take control of a plane traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe before passengers overpowered him and took control of the plane, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The incident has raised concerns about the co-pilot's radicalization and potential links to Australia.
Key Facts
- The Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 was carrying more than 170 passengers when the co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attempted to take control of the plane, plunging it 17,000ft in 2.5 hours.
- The co-pilot, an Omani national, was issued a student visa in 2014 and studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017, before his visa was cancelled in 2019.
- The co-pilot had graduated with a degree in aviation management from Buckinghamshire New University in the UK in 2023, but did not take any pilot training at the school.
- The pilot, Capt Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was injured during the attack and was taken to a hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in a stable condition.