Flydubai flight to Israel: co-pilot attacked pilot with ax

The United Arab Emirates said this Saturday (3) that the co-pilot of the Flydubai flight attacked the commander with an emergency ax and tried to take control of the aircraft during the incident that occurred on Wednesday (30).

At that time, it was unclear what weapon had been used in the attack. According to the UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the episode was an attempted "terrorist" act.

Flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the incident occurred on Wednesday.

Passengers and crew managed to overpower the co-pilot. A Flydubai reserve pilot who was on board took control of the aircraft and landed at Tabuk airport in northwest Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained.

According to Reuters, the co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, a citizen of Oman, by a source with direct knowledge of the case. UAE authorities did not immediately confirm the identity.

The investigation is still ongoing to determine the circumstances of the episode, the co-pilot's motivation and whether there were other people involved. Authorities also analyze physical and digital evidence.

The classification of the episode as an attempted "terrorist" attack is the first made publicly by an Emirati official. Until then, the circumstances and motivation for the attack were still being investigated.

Flydubai said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation and the company is not in a position to comment further.

The plane left Dubai bound for Tel Aviv. During the flight over Saudi Arabia, the aircraft lost around 5,000 meters of altitude in just over 30 seconds, according to data from Flightradar24.

The commander was attacked inside the cabin. The new version presented by the UAE authorities states that the co-pilot used an emergency axe, equipment kept in the cabin for emergency situations.

After the attack, the commander managed to open the cabin door. Passengers and crew helped restrain the co-pilot, while another pilot on board took control.

The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Emirati and Israeli authorities are participating in the investigation. Investigators are seeking to clarify what happened inside the cabin, the co-pilot's motivation and whether he acted alone or received guidance from other people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously said that the co-pilot was an Omani citizen and could have undergone Islamist radicalization. He also stated that a definitive motivation for the attack had not yet been established.

The investigation continues.