New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- Flydubai Flight FZ1073 narrowly avoided disaster on 30 September after Omani co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami allegedly attacked the aircraft's Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe in an apparent attempt to take control of the plane.

Aviation commentator and veteran pilot Alastair Rosenschein said the incident raises questions about flight-crew security screening, cockpit security and whether potential warning signs were missed.

Rosenschein, who spent around four decades in the UK aviation industry, told LiveMint in an exclusive interview that the incident should prompt closer scrutiny of how flight crew are screened and monitored.

Referring to media reports that the co-pilot had previously faced restrictions on fl...