Australian counterterrorism authorities have opened an investigation into the Australian background of the Flydubai co-pilot accused of carrying out a terrorist attack aboard a Tel Aviv-bound flight.

The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, confirmed that it is investigating Hamam al-Hammami’s connections to Australia. Reuters

Al-Hammami previously studied engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne. The university confirmed that he attended the school but left without completing his degree. Authorities are now examining his activities during the years he spent in Australia. The Guardian

Al-Hammami is accused of attacking the captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 with a cockpit crash axe and attempting to seize control of the aircraft while it was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. UAE prosecutors have officially described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Reuters

Passengers and crew members intervened during the attack, and the aircraft was eventually brought under control before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.