UAE calls Flydubai cockpit attack a terrorist act as investigation continues

United Arab Emirates investigators have described a co-pilot’s attack aboard an Israel-bound Flydubai flight as an attempted terrorist act, saying he used a cockpit crash axe to stab the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft.

Flight 1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people aboard when the attack occurred about two and a half hours into the journey. The aircraft descended sharply before passengers subdued the co-pilot and two reserve pilots took control. They landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Captain Smit Machchhar said he was injured on the cockpit floor but managed to open the reinforced door, allowing passengers to enter. Early passenger accounts had described the weapon as a knife, but UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi identified it as a crash axe, which is normally stored in the cockpit for emergencies.

The suspect is an Omani national and has been identified by several news organizations as Hamam al-Hammami, though authorities have not publicly confirmed his name. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported that Oman Air had previously removed him from flying duties over concerns about extremist views. It remains unclear whether those concerns were shared with Flydubai or other authorities.

UAE investigators are examining the attacker’s motives and whether he had links to extremist groups. NBC News reported that early indications suggested he acted alone. Australian authorities are also investigating his reported links to that country.