United Arab Emirates authorities have officially declared a midair incident aboard a Flydubai flight a terrorist attack after a co-pilot struck the aircraft’s captain with a crash axe and attempted to seize control of the plane.
UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al Shamsi confirmed Saturday that co-pilot aboard flight FZ1073 launched a deliberate assault on the captain inside the cockpit and tried to take over the aircraft’s flight controls. The plane was carrying 174 mostly Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the attack occurred Wednesday.
The suspected attacker is an Omani national who was transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Saudi officials said his health had improved though his full medical condition remains unclear. Multiple outlets have identified him as Hamam al-Hammami though UAE authorities have not officially confirmed that name.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the suspect had previously been banned from flying by Oman due to concerns he had embraced radical ideological views. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Friday that the attacker had undergone Islamist radicalization and intended to bring the plane down with all passengers aboard.
Netanyahu’s spokesman said the suspect’s social media accounts contained posts about killing Jews. Netanyahu also warned that if any party was found to have directed the attacker they would face severe consequences. A senior U.S. official told NBC News there is currently no evidence linking Iran to the incident.
A disaster was narrowly avoided when the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door allowing crew members and passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker. Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar was hospitalized in Abu Dhabi with injuries to his stomach and head.
Speaking from his hospital bed in a video released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Machchhar described the harrowing moments saying he could sense the aircraft losing altitude and pushed through the pain to prevent the plane from going down. His family said they hope he will be discharged within two weeks.
Israeli Government Spokesman David Mencer said Israeli investigators would work alongside their Emirati counterparts to determine the attacker’s motives and any possible connections to outside groups. President Donald Trump also weighed in Thursday warning Iran would face serious consequences if it were found to be involved.
UAE officials said the investigation remains active as authorities work to establish the full circumstances and determine whether the attacker acted alone or was directed by an outside organization.