TEL AVIV, Israel | The United Arab Emirates had shared passenger and crew information with Israel before the Flydubai flight that was nearly crashed by its co-pilot, including the pilots’ nationalities, according to regional officials cited by The Associated Press, as Australian authorities opened a counterterrorism inquiry into the co-pilot’s links to the country.
The disclosure is adding to questions over how the Omani co-pilot, identified by Reuters sources as Hammam al-Hammami, was able to serve on an Israel-bound flight despite having previously been barred from flying for an Omani airline because of concerns about extremist views. AP reported that Israeli authorities had not raised concerns about any passenger or crew member after receiving the information.
Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit with an emergency crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. UAE prosecutors have described the incident as a terrorist attack. The aircraft plunged more than 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds before Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and subdue the attacker. Two off-duty pilots who were among those on board subsequently helped land the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar was seriously injured but survived the attack. He has since received medical treatment in the UAE and was visited by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to AP. Passengers who intervened have also been praised for helping prevent a potentially catastrophic crash.
The investigation has now expanded to Australia. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprising the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, confirmed that it is investigating al-Hammami’s links to Australia. Reuters reported that two sources briefed on the investigation said he had studied at a university in Melbourne, with Australian media identifying RMIT University. RMIT declined to comment.
The Financial Times has separately reported allegations that al-Hammami visited radical mosques and extremist websites while in Australia and that Australian intelligence services had maintained a file on him. Reuters said it could not independently verify those reports, and Australian authorities had not publicly confirmed those details.
The case has also raised questions about the screening of foreign pilots flying into Israel. AP reported that sharing passenger and crew lists is standard aviation procedure, but Israeli officials said responsibility for reviewing such information is divided among government agencies and that security authorities had not received warnings about the crew. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel has long-standing arrangements with foreign carriers concerning pilots who are citizens of countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The incident has prompted renewed attention to aviation security measures developed after decades of aircraft hijackings and terrorist attacks. The International Civil Aviation Organization says protecting civil aviation from unlawful interference has been a central security objective since the rise of aviation terrorism in the second half of the 20th century. ICAO standards also cover flight crew procedures, cabin security and training for preventing illicit acts against civil aviation.
Flydubai has said a full investigation is underway. UAE authorities are leading the probe, while Australian authorities examine the suspect’s background and possible connections to Australia. The investigation will determine how existing screening systems failed to identify the alleged security risk and whether anyone else was involved.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
