Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe in attempted terrorist act

The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said a co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act by attacking the flight captain with a crash axe on an Israel-bound flight, the BBC, CNBC, and The Guardian reported. The BBC and The Guardian noted that the incident occurred on flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. [1][3][4]

The BBC reported that the aircraft carried more than 170 people and plunged 17,000 feet, or 5,200 metres, two and a half hours into the journey before passengers overpowered the attacker and took control of the plane. Captain Smit Machchhar said he was lying on the floor injured when he realized the aircraft was sinking and forced himself to act. The Indian government praised Machchhar for his courage, according to the BBC. [1]

Several media outlets named the suspect accused of trying to take over the jet as Hamam al-Hammami, the BBC reported. The Guardian and DW reported that the suspect had previously been barred from flying in Oman due to extremist views and security concerns. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the aircraft plunged thousands of feet during the struggle before passengers restrained the suspect. [1][4][5][12][13]

Flydubai is an Emirati government-owned airline based at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, established by the Government of Dubai in March 2008 as a low-cost carrier. [10][11]

Investigators in the United Arab Emirates said the co-pilot planned a terrorist act, but RTE reported that authorities have not revealed his official motive. [7]