UAE prosecutor says Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe

The Flydubai co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said. The investigation is continuing.

About two and a half hours after take-off, the plane began a sharp descent of 17,000ft (about 5,200m). Passengers overpowered the attacker, and two reserve pilots later landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed during the attack, managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries. He was taken to hospital and then airlifted to Abu Dhabi; India’s embassy in the UAE said he was in stable condition.

Passengers entered the cockpit

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said passenger Tali Manes raised the alarm after hearing a disturbance from the cockpit. Her husband, Zvika, together with Yaniv Hayun, Dr Shota Musayev and Asaf Rajuan, entered after Machchhar opened the door.

Hayun said the attacker was trying to damage the instruments to disable the aircraft. He restrained the co-pilot and then pulled the controls until another pilot took over.

Investigation into identity and motive

Al Shamsi said investigators were treating the incident as an attempted “terrorist act” and were examining its circumstances, motives and possible links. The aircraft first transmitted a general emergency code and then squawked 7500, indicating unlawful interference or hijacking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker was an Omani national. Several media organisations identified him as Hamam al-Hammami, but there has been no official confirmation of that name.

The Indian government praised Machchhar for his “immense courage”. Buckinghamshire New University said the suspect completed a three-year distance-learning aviation-management course there in 2023, but did not receive pilot training at the university.