SriLanka, Oct. 10 -- The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai aircraft began showing signs of a "drift towards extremism and terrorism" while studying in Australia, according to officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi also alleged that the pilot, widely identified as Hamam al-Hammami, attempted to crash the aircraft into Tel Aviv airport in a "suicide attack" last week.

The co-pilot reportedly wounded the captain in the cockpit with an emergency crash axe before being overpowered by passengers. Another crew member on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight managed to land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

Melbourne-based RMIT University earlier confirmed that the pilot had studied ...