The co-pilot of a flyDubai flight to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft in what the United Arab Emirates has described as a terrorist attack, according to the UAE state news agency.
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UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked the captain with the crash axe inside the cockpit and attempted to seize control of the aircraft during Wednesday's flight. The incident was described by the UAE as an attempted terrorist attack.
The co-pilot has been identified by people familiar with the investigation as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami.
The flight, carrying 182 people, went into a sharp descent during the incident, with the captain Smit Mchchhar later saying he used his remaining strength while being attacked to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and others who heard unusual sounds entered the cockpit, restrained the co-pilot and helped stabilise the aircraft.
The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Both the captain and co-pilot were later taken to the UAE, which is leading the investigation, with several countries, including Israel, participating.
The co-pilot's background has also come under scrutiny. A person familiar with the matter said Oman had previously barred him from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views. He was subsequently moved to an administrative role at Oman Air before being hired by FlyDubai. It was not immediately clear how extensively he was vetted before joining the UAE-based airline.
A regional official said al-Hammami was born in the UAE and that his mother was Syrian. The official also confirmed that he had worked for Oman Air and had been removed from flying duties over concerns about extremist views.
Security agencies from four regional countries are investigating his motives, with assistance from the US and other Western governments. UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash has called the incident a "dangerous terrorist act", while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalization", without providing evidence.
His Instagram account was reportedly deleted on the day of the flight.
