Flydubai co-pilot attempted 'terrorist attack,' UAE says

The co-pilot accused of stabbing his captain during Flydubai Flight 1073 was wielding a crash ax and attempted to carry out a "terrorist attack," UAE investigators said Saturday, according to Emirati state news agency WAM.

A crash ax is typically stored in the plane's cockpit for use in case of an emergency.

Anwar Gargash, an Emirati presidential adviser, said on X that the Flydubai incident shows that the latest "terrorist operation" means the Mideast region's "fight against extremism continues."

Western and Gulf officials cited by Reuters and AP news agencies named the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Emirati authorities have not publicly commented on his identity.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that he had been barred from flying by Oman over concerns that he had adopted radical ideological views.

The attack that took place on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has raised many questions about how the incident unfolded as well as about background checks in aviation hiring.

There were 182 people on board, including four pilots.

After the co-pilot stabbed the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane , two other pilots in the cabin took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

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