The Australian Federal Police demanded Qantas hand over the private travel arrangements of a senior ABC journalist as part of its controversial investigation into a major national security leak.

The request reveals the sweeping nature of the probe into how the national broadcaster published top-secret government material containing allegations of misconduct by Australian troops in Afghanistan including the potential unlawful killings of unarmed men and children.

Federal Police called for Qantas to hand over travel details of a journalist as part of its probe into leaked documents. Credit:Peter Braig

The investigation culminated in a dramatic raid on the ABC's Sydney headquarters last month, triggering a political storm that could lead to legal changes to better protect press freedom.

An AFP statement obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age shows investigators approached Qantas earlier this year asking for information about Daniel Oakes, one of two ABC reporters who broke the story known as 'The Afghan Files'.