India, Oct. 3 -- The Omani co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, accused of stabbing Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and trying to hijack the Tel Aviv-bound flight, attempted to carry out a "terrorist" attack during the flight, a UAE official said on Saturday.

The co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, according to multiple news agencies. UAE authorities are yet to officially confirm his identity.

The United Arab Emirates prosecutor general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, cited by the state news agency WAM, said that the accused co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

A crash axe is typically kept in the cockpit for use during emergencies such as crashes....