What happened
Australian authorities are investigating the links between Australia and a Flydubai co-pilot who attempted to take control of a plane traveling to Israel. The co-pilot, allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe during the flight, but passengers were able to overpower him and take control of the plane.
The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was arrested and is being questioned by authorities. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was carrying over 170 passengers.
The co-pilot, who has been named by multiple media outlets, had previously studied in Australia on a student visa from 2015 to 2017. Counter-terrorism officials will examine whether the co-pilot was radicalized during his time in Australia.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the UAE's attorney general stating that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. The co-pilot's employment history has also come under scrutiny, with reports that he was removed from flight training at Oman Air due to concerns over his radical views.
