Abu Dhabi, Oct. 3 -- A Flydubai co-pilot attacked the aircraft's captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the plane during a flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates' top prosecutor said, describing the incident as an attempted "terrorist act".
The co-pilot was identified by UAE state news agency WAM as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. UAE Attorney General Counsellor Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said al-Hammami attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar while Flydubai flight FZ1073 was airborne.
Saudi state media also identified al-Hammami as the co-pilot. One report said he was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother and had lived in the country for several years.
Al-Shamsi said the co-pilot had ...