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

A Flydubai flight en route to Israel saw chaos when its co-pilot attacked the pilot with a crash axe, the UAE prosecutor general has revealed. The Airbus A320, carrying over 170 passengers, plummeted 17,000 feet during the incident, which occurred two and a half hours into its journey. Passengers managed to overpower the attacker, taking control of the plane and leading it to land safely in Saudi Arabia with the assistance of two reserve pilots.

An Omani national was identified as the attacker, though this has not been officially confirmed. The weapon used in the attack remains a key focus of investigators, as it is typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker displayed suicidal tendencies and had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.

The UAE is now investigating if the incident is linked to any terrorist activity. The co-pilot who initiated the attack, Smit Machchhar, is reported to be in stable condition after being stabbed. The Indian pilot, who survived the ordeal, is also recovering well.