Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has described a cockpit incident aboard a Flydubai passenger aircraft as an attempted terrorist act after the co pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to take control of the aircraft.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co pilot attacked the captain during the flight and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Investigators are examining the circumstances of the incident, the motive behind it and whether there were any wider connections.
The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, according to Saudi authorities.
The aircraft experienced a rapid loss of altitude during the incident before control was restored. It was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Both pilots were injured and were later taken to Abu Dhabi for medical treatment. The captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was injured during the struggle in the cockpit and was later transferred to Abu Dhabi. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said he was in good condition and receiving medical treatment.
The incident began when the co pilot attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit. The captain managed to open the cockpit door while the aircraft was descending, allowing passengers to enter the cockpit and help restrain the co pilot.
Two off duty Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the aircraft later took control of the plane and helped land it safely in Tabuk.
The aircraft's rapid descent was one of the most serious aspects of the incident. Flight tracking data showed that the plane lost more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds during the most dramatic part of the incident before the aircraft was stabilized.
The latest UAE statement has also clarified that a crash axe was used in the attack. The crash axe is an emergency tool carried on the aircraft.
The co pilot has been identified by people familiar with the investigation as Omani national Hamam al Hammami. His identity has not been formally announced by UAE authorities in their public statements.
There have also been reports about his previous aviation career. A person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that he had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns that he had adopted extremist views. He was later employed by Flydubai. The circumstances surrounding those earlier concerns and the security checks carried out before his employment remain under investigation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. However, investigators have not publicly established his motive or whether he was acting on behalf of an extremist organisation.
The UAE has not publicly established whether the co pilot acted alone or whether anyone outside the aircraft directed or supported the attack. Investigators are also examining whether there was any prior planning.
Saudi authorities carried out the initial response after the aircraft landed in Tabuk. The wider investigation is being led by a specialised UAE Public Prosecution team, with coordination with relevant regional and international authorities.
The incident has raised questions about aviation security, particularly the risks posed by threats from within a flight crew. Aviation security measures have traditionally focused heavily on preventing unauthorised people from entering the cockpit. The case could lead to further questions about pilot screening, security checks and the sharing of information between aviation authorities and airlines.
For now, the main confirmed development is that the UAE Attorney General has described the incident as an attempted terrorist act. The investigation continues into the motive, any possible outside connections and the circumstances surrounding the co pilot's earlier aviation history.