AFP confirms investigation of flydubai co-pilot's Australian links
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says it is investigating Australian links to a flydubai pilot who allegedly attacked a colleague in the cockpit.
The pilot was stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash the flydubai plane on Wednesday.
The jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds in the incident.
The flight bound for Tel Aviv was carrying 174 people and was forced to divert to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
The investigation is being conducted by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO, an AFP spokesperson said.
An AFP spokesperson said an update would be provided "at an appropriate time".
Sources close to the issue have confirmed the co-pilot was issued a student visa in 2014 and studied in Australia between 2015 and 2017, whereafter he left the country.
His visa was cancelled in 2019.
The ABC understands his visa was not cancelled on character grounds, but due to his lack of enrolment in a course, rendering him ineligible for a student visa.
The ABC understands the Joint Counter Terrorism Team investigation will examine whether the man was radicalised while in Australia.
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