Australia Investigates Flydubai Co-Pilot’s Links After Cockpit Attack
publishers 115articles 185first reported 30 Sep, 22:23 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 22 editionstop 25 #1
Australian security agencies are investigating the local connections of a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and trying to seize control of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30.
The Australian Federal Police said the inquiry involves Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Australian media reported that the man received a student visa in 2014, studied in the country from 2015 to 2017 and had his visa cancelled in 2019 after he was no longer enrolled.
Multiple news organizations have identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, though Australian authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. The United Arab Emirates has described the incident as an attempted terrorist operation and is investigating the motive and whether the attacker had any accomplices or extremist connections.
UAE authorities said the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe aboard Flight FZ1073, which was carrying more than 170 passengers. The aircraft descended about 17,000 feet before passengers and crew entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker. Two reserve pilots subsequently landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was hospitalized and reported in stable condition.
Media reports citing unnamed officials said the co-pilot had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about alleged extremist views. Those claims, and whether relevant information was shared with other countries or airlines, have not been officially confirmed. Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv until further notice.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 4 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 74 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 115
- Source articles
- 185
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 4
- This version written
- 74 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →