Australian authorities have opened a second investigation into Flydubai co-pilot Hamam Al Hammami, who is accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday (September 30).
Al Hammami, from Oman, allegedly assaulted Captain Machchhar, an Indian national, using the axe. Despite suffering severe stab wounds and lying on the cockpit floor, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the door, allowing passengers to overpower Al Hammami.
Incident details and emergency landing
Two off-duty pilots then rushed into the cockpit to take control of the aircraft, which had plunged into a frightening descent, shedding 14,000ft of altitude within 30 seconds, according to data. The aircraft took approximately 10 minutes to stabilise before landing safely in Saudi Arabia.
Remarkably, none of the 182 passengers sustained serious injuries. Following the incident, UAE authorities launched an investigation. Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi told state media that 'investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack'.
Australian probe and detention
Australian officials have now confirmed that two police forces and a security agency have initiated an inquiry into Al Hammami, marking the second country to investigate the co-pilot. A spokesperson for the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (VIC JCTT), which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, stated: "Vic JCTT can confirm it is investigating the man's links to Australia."
The spokesperson confirmed a 'further update' would be provided 'at the appropriate time' but declined to elaborate on the investigation's nature or Al Hammami's purported connections to Australia. After the aircraft landed at Tabuk's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi authorities detained Al Hammami. An aircraft transporting those aboard the flight touched down in Israel on Wednesday evening.
