Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot’s student visa and radicalization links

Australian authorities have launched an investigation into the ties of Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot involved in the September 30 terrorist attack on Flydubai Flight FZ1073. The probe comes after reports revealed that al-Hammami was granted a student visa to study in Canberra in 2014.

The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and ASIO, confirmed the investigation. They are looking into whether al-Hammami was radicalized during his time in Australia, where he studied between 2015 and 2017 before leaving the country.

An Australian Federal Police spokesperson stated that the team is investigating the co-pilot's links to Australia, promising an update when appropriate. Sources cited by ABC News reported that the co-pilot's student visa was issued in 2014, raising questions about his activities during his stay in Australia.

Meanwhile, the identities of the mystery crew members who helped stabilize the Flydubai plane after the attack remain undisclosed. The airline has only referred to them as on-duty crew members traveling on the flight.