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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Adeshola Ore and Sarah Basford Canales

Flydubai co-pilot’s time in Australia being investigated by security agencies after alleged cockpit attack

Flydubai plane
Disaster was narrowly averted on Wednesday when passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot, named in numerous outlets as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, attempting to take control of the flydubai flight to Tel Aviv. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

Australian security agencies have launched an investigation after it emerged that the flydubai co-pilot who allegedly tried to hijack an Israel-bound flight spent about two years in the country as a student.

Disaster was narrowly averted on Wednesday when passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot’s attempt to take control of the flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, which had 182 people onboard and plunged 16,625 feet (5,067 metres) in just over 30 seconds.

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