Australian officials are examining the background of a co-pilot who flew on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv in September. The flight carried more than 170 passengers traveling to Israel. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot.
The co-pilot in question is not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Multiple reports identify him as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Netanyahu later spoke publicly about the incident after the aircraft landed safely.
Australian Federal Police said the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating al-Hammami’s reported links to Australia. The team includes federal police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
Flydubai is an airline based in Dubai, and its crew members are subject to various national regulations during international travel.
Reports say al-Hammami studied engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne from 2015 to 2017. He later completed a distance-learning degree in aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University in Britain and graduated in 2023. The university said the course did not include pilot training.
UAE prosecutors have described the cockpit attack as an attempted terrorist act and are investigating the motive. Al-Hammami was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE and is being questioned there.
This case highlights the importance of verifying credentials and national affiliations for all crew members on international flights.
Flydubai has urged the public not to speculate about the motive while authorities continue their investigation. Investigators in Australia and several other countries are still examining the incident and al-Hammami’s background.