Australian security agencies have launched an investigation into the flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack an Israel-bound flight. The man reportedly spent about two years in Australia as a student before the incident, which occurred on Wednesday.
Incident Overview
Disaster was narrowly averted when passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot’s attempt to take control of the flydubai flight to Tel Aviv. The flight had 182 people onboard and plunged 16,625 feet (5,067 metres) in just over 30 seconds. The United Arab Emirates’ prosecutor general stated that the co-pilot used a crash axe during the attempted terrorist attack, which included stabbing the pilot mid-air.
Co-Pilot's Background
Numerous media outlets have identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. A source familiar with the case revealed that he was granted an Australian student visa in 2014 and arrived in the country to commence a university course the following year. He left Australia in 2017, and his visa was cancelled in 2019 after authorities confirmed he was no longer enrolled in the course.
