The Flydubai cockpit attack has triggered a widening international investigation into the background of co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami and the security checks that allowed him to operate Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. UAE authorities have described the incident as an attempted terrorist act, while investigators in Israel, Australia and the UAE are examining his background, possible motives and how he was cleared to fly the route.
Al-Hammami, an Omani national, allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft on September 30. The aircraft reportedly plunged more than 16,000 feet before the captain managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew then restrained the co-pilot, while a reserve Flydubai pilot on board helped take control and land the aircraft safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
The investigation has also raised questions about Al-Hammami’s earlier aviation career. Omani sources told The Economic Times that he had previously trained with an Omani airline but was prevented from continuing in the aviation sector after authorities identified his interest in extremist websites. Oman has said it did not receive requests from his later employers for a background check.
Australia has opened a separate investigation into Al-Hammami’s links to the country. Australian authorities confirmed that the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, involving federal and state police and intelligence agencies, is examining his time in Australia. Reports say he studied at RMIT University in Melbourne around a decade ago. Claims that he visited radical mosques and accessed extremist websites in Australia are also being examined, although Reuters said it could not independently verify those reports.
Israeli authorities are also reviewing how the co-pilot was cleared for a flight to Tel Aviv. Reports say Flydubai had shared the crew members’ names and nationalities with Israeli authorities before the flight, but the information reportedly did not trigger a security concern. Israeli officials are now examining the vetting process for foreign airline crews and whether information about Al-Hammami’s previous restrictions should have been available.
The UAE-led investigation is examining the circumstances of the attack, digital and physical evidence, the co-pilot’s motives and any possible connections. Israeli investigators are expected to participate in the probe, while Australian authorities are separately examining his links to Australia. No final conclusion about the wider motive or whether others were involved has been established.
