Australia Investigates Flydubai Co-Pilot’s Links After Mid-Air Terror Incident
SYDNEY/TEL AVIV — Australian counterterrorism authorities have launched an investigation into the Australian connections of the Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a passenger aircraft during a flight to Israel.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, made up of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), is examining the man’s links to Australia, an AFP spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.
The investigation follows the dramatic incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain inside the cockpit.
The United Arab Emirates has described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Investigators say the co-pilot used a cockpit crash axe to attack the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft.
The aircraft subsequently went into a steep descent, dropping approximately 16,000 feet in around 30 seconds, before the situation was brought under control. Passengers and crew members intervened, while pilots travelling on the aircraft helped regain control of the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The co-pilot was detained before being transferred to the United Arab Emirates for questioning. More than 170 people were aboard the flight, and no passengers were seriously injured.
Australian connections under investigation
The Australian investigation is focused on the co-pilot’s time in the country and whether any of his activities or associations there could be relevant to the incident.
Australian media reports indicate that the Omani national was issued a student visa in 2014 and studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017. His visa was later cancelled in 2019 after he was no longer enrolled in a course, according to the ABC.
Reports have also linked him to studies in Melbourne. However, Australian authorities have not publicly disclosed what they have uncovered about his activities or associations while he was in the country.
The AFP said the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating the man’s Australian links and that further information would be provided at an appropriate time.
Questions over pilot screening
The incident has also raised questions about aviation security and how airlines assess the backgrounds of flight crew members.
The co-pilot had reportedly previously been barred from flying for Oman’s national airline because of concerns over extremist views, according to reports. Investigators are now examining his background and the circumstances that led to him eventually working as a commercial airline co-pilot.
His aviation history is also being examined internationally. Royal Air Maroc confirmed that he completed a three-month theoretical training programme with the airline in 2025 but was not selected for employment afterward. Buckinghamshire New University also confirmed that he completed a distance-learning aviation management course, but did not undertake pilot training there.
International investigation continues
The UAE is leading the investigation into the incident, while Israeli authorities are also expected to participate.
Investigators are seeking to establish the co-pilot’s motive, whether anyone else was involved and how he was cleared to operate on a flight carrying a large number of Israeli passengers.
The incident has also prompted renewed questions about cockpit security, crew background checks and how aviation authorities share security information across international borders.
For now, Australian authorities have not said that the co-pilot committed any offence while in Australia or that his time in the country directly contributed to the attack.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities in Australia, the UAE, Israel and other countries examining different aspects of the case.
Flytechnews will continue to follow developments as investigators release further information.
