Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Australian security and law enforcement agencies are investigating possible Victorian connections to the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attempting a terrorist attack aboard a passenger jet bound for Israel.
The investigation follows a shocking mid-air incident aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, where co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, allegedly attacked the aircraft’s captain with a crash axe while the Boeing 737 was carrying 174 passengers and crew.
The incident has attracted attention in New Zealand because reports have previously linked al-Hammami to pilot training in Hamilton, highlighting a Kiwi connection to a story that has become an international security concern.
According to reports, the alleged attack unfolded while the aircraft was en route to Israel. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates claim al-Hammami attempted to seize control of the aircraft in what prosecutors have described as a terrorist attack.
Passengers reportedly intervened to restrain the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots on board assisted in stabilising the aircraft. The flight was eventually diverted and safely landed at a regional airport in Saudi Arabia, potentially preventing a catastrophe.
As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Australia’s Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police, is now examining the suspect’s historical links to Australia.
According to Australian media reports, a now-deleted LinkedIn profile attributed to al-Hammami indicated he had studied engineering at a Victorian university. Sources familiar with the investigation told Australian media that he was granted a student visa in 2014 and lived in Melbourne between 2015 and 2017. His visa reportedly expired in 2019.
Australian authorities have stressed that the fact the visa was granted does not imply any wrongdoing by immigration officials at the time.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll described the reported connections as concerning and said he would seek further information from authorities.
Meanwhile, UAE Prosecutor-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said investigators had determined the co-pilot allegedly used a crash axe kept in the cockpit for emergency situations. The axe is standard safety equipment carried on many commercial aircraft.
The case continues to raise serious questions about airline security, pilot screening and aviation safety procedures. With alleged connections now stretching across the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, investigators in several countries are working to piece together the background of a man accused of bringing an international passenger flight perilously close to disaster.
