Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced an incident where the co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe, according to the UAE prosecutor general. The flight, carrying over 170 passengers, plummeted more than 17,000 feet approximately two and a half hours into its journey. Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured, found himself on the cockpit floor and realized the plane was descending, prompting him to take action by declaring, "I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside."

Passengers and on-duty crew members managed to overpower the attacker, enabling the plane to be safely landed. The crash axe is typically stored in the cockpit for emergencies. The UAE's attorney general stated that investigations are underway to ascertain the full circumstances and motives of the incident. The attacker, an Omani national, reportedly called out to the crew, "Kill me, kill me!" following his subdual, suggesting he was suicidal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further alleged that the attacker had been subjected to Islamist radical indoctrination, implying he intended to crash the plane. The UAE is now examining whether the incident could be linked to terrorist activity. Captain Machchhar was hospitalized for his wounds but is described as stable and recovering well. The pilot expressed confidence in his recovery, stating that he would regain his health.