Australia opens counter-terror probe into Flydubai co-pilot’s Australian pastਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਫਲਾਈਦੁਬਈ ਦੇ ਸਹਿ-ਪਾਇਲਟ ਦੇ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆਈ ਅਤੀਤ ਦੀ ਅੱਤਵਾਦ-ਵਿਰੋਧੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ

Australia’s federal counter-terrorism task force has opened an investigation into the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar aboard Flight FZ1073 on September 30, after it emerged that the man studied in Australia on a student visa for about two years. The inquiry gives the already international probe into the mid-air attack another dimension, with authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and now Australia all examining the suspect’s background.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed the investigation in a statement to the BBC, saying the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team — comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) — “is investigating the man’s links to Australia.” The statement added that an update would be provided “at the appropriate time.”

What the AFP said

The confirmation came after Australian media reported that the co-pilot had been granted a student visa in 2014 and spent roughly two years in the country studying. The probe will examine whether the man was radicalised during his time in Australia, the ABC reported. Counter-terrorism officials will look at his contacts, activities and movements during those years.

The Australian authorities have not publicly identified the co-pilot. Multiple international outlets, including Reuters, CNN and The New York Times, have named him as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Israel’s prime minister has also described the attacker as an Omani national.

The visa trail

According to the ABC, the co-pilot was issued an Australian student visa in 2014 and studied in the country between 2015 and 2017 before leaving. His student visa was later cancelled in 2019 because he was no longer enrolled in any course, making him ineligible for it.

CNN reported on Saturday that a previously active LinkedIn profile under the same name indicated he had undertaken remote coursework through Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom. AAP News separately reported that the Omani national had been barred from flying on his country’s airline because of concerns about his extremist views.

An international probe widens

The attack unfolded about two and a half hours into Flight FZ1073’s journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with more than 170 people aboard. The UAE prosecutor-general has said the Omani co-pilot attacked the pilot with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, sending it plunging about 17,000 feet before the severely injured Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door and passengers and crew subdued the attacker. The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Israeli officials have described the incident as an apparent terrorist attack. The UAE prosecutor-general has said the incident is under investigation and possible motives are being examined. The Australian inquiry runs alongside those investigations, and Saudi Arabia was also involved after the emergency landing on its soil.

The development keeps the spotlight on a story with strong Punjabi interest. Captain Smit Machchhar, who was hailed for preventing a far worse disaster, has since been invited by Israel’s prime minister to the country’s Independence Day ceremony.

What happened on Flydubai Flight FZ1073?

On September 30, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe about two and a half hours into the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight and tried to seize control of the aircraft. The plane plunged roughly 17,000 feet before the injured captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. The flight landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all on board surviving.

Why is Australia investigating?

Australian media found the co-pilot held an Australian student visa from 2014, studied in the country between 2015 and 2017, and had the visa cancelled in 2019 for non-enrolment. The AFP’s Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is now examining his links to Australia, including whether he was radicalised there.

Has anyone been charged?

The UAE prosecutor-general has said the incident and its possible motives are under investigation, but no public charges have been announced. Investigations are also under way in Israel and Australia.