flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with cockpit crash axe in terrorist attack: UAE

Co-pilot attacked flydubai captain with crash axe, tried to take control of plane in terrorist attack: UAEOmani pilot attacked Capt Smit Machchhar with an axeThe United Arab Emirates on Saturday described the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai, as a “terrorist attack”, accusing the co-pilot, an Omani national identified as Hamam al-Hammami, of assaulting Indian captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit’s crash axe and attempting to seize control of the aircraft.The flight, which was carrying 174 people, was involved in the incident on Wednesday. According to a statement citing the UAE Attorney General, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar before trying to take control of the aircraft.Passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the co-pilot, helping prevent the confrontation from escalating further. The UAE statement did not disclose a motive for the attack or provide further details about the sequence of events inside the cockpit.The authorities’ classification of the incident as a terrorist attack marks the latest official development in the case. Further details about the co-pilot’s actions and the investigation are awaited. This is a developing story. It will be updated.- Ends