Flydubai co-pilot spent several months in New Zealand during earlier flight training, police confirmed on Tuesday. The man traveled to New Zealand in late 2018 under a six-month student visa. He completed part of his aviation training there for a UK-based company. Authorities are now reviewing records from his time in the country.
New Zealand police said immigration records confirmed the man’s arrival and departure dates. He entered the country on November 30, 2018, according to those records. He left New Zealand on May 23, 2019, after spending almost six months there. Police said the training involved a company that no longer operates in New Zealand.
Authorities are examining the co-pilot’s activities during his stay in New Zealand. Police have begun reviewing available records and conducting further inquiries. However, authorities have not released additional details about his training program. They also have not publicly identified the co-pilot involved in the incident.
The investigation follows a serious incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073 last week. The aircraft had departed Dubai and traveled toward Israel when the incident occurred. According to UAE authorities, the co-pilot attacked the captain during the flight. The attack reportedly involved an emergency crash axe inside the aircraft.
The aircraft later diverted toward Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals. The incident prompted investigations involving authorities in several countries. UAE officials described the incident as a terrorist attack. However, investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the event and the co-pilot’s actions.
Flydubai has not publicly disclosed the man’s identity. UAE authorities have also kept his identity private while investigations continue. Meanwhile, investigators are examining information about his background and previous activities. The New Zealand inquiry adds another part to the international investigation.
The discovery of his previous training in New Zealand provides authorities with additional background information. Police are reviewing immigration records connected with his stay in the country. They are also examining information related to his aviation training. Nevertheless, officials have not indicated that the New Zealand training caused or contributed to the incident.
The investigation also extends beyond New Zealand and the UAE. An Australian counterterrorism unit is examining the man’s reported links to Australia. That inquiry forms part of the broader effort to establish his background. Authorities are expected to assess information from multiple countries as their work continues.
The international nature of the investigation reflects the seriousness of the incident. The flight involved a UAE-based airline and originated in Dubai. It was traveling toward Israel before the emergency occurred. Furthermore, the co-pilot had previously spent time in both New Zealand and Australia.
The New Zealand police statement confirmed only his training history in the country. It did not provide information about his behavior during that period. Police also did not disclose whether investigators found anything significant in the records. Their inquiries remain ongoing as officials gather more information.
The case could involve several stages of investigation across different jurisdictions. Authorities may examine travel records, training documents and other available information. They could also review his professional history and international connections. However, investigators have not announced any conclusions about those areas.
The Flydubai co-pilot investigation remains active as authorities continue gathering evidence. Officials have provided limited information while inquiries continue across multiple countries. The New Zealand police review could help establish a clearer timeline of his training. Meanwhile, Australian and UAE authorities are pursuing their own lines of inquiry.
The incident has also raised questions about security procedures involving airline crews. However, authorities have not announced any changes to aviation security measures. Investigators will likely focus first on establishing what happened during the flight. They will also examine the events leading up to the reported attack.
For now, officials have confirmed the co-pilot’s presence in New Zealand between 2018 and 2019. They have also confirmed that he completed part of his flight training there. The company connected to that training no longer operates in New Zealand. Authorities continue checking records as they work to establish the full timeline.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details could emerge as authorities complete their inquiries. The co-pilot’s identity has not been publicly released by UAE authorities or Flydubai. Meanwhile, agencies in New Zealand and Australia continue reviewing information linked to his past. Further findings could provide more context about the events surrounding flight FZ1073.
