UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'

The co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel attempted to carry out a terrorist attack with a crash axe during the flight. According to UAE investigators, the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, attacked the captain in the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The flight, which was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew, plunged 17,000ft before passengers and crew managed to overpower the attacker and successfully take control of the plane. The plane was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

The UAE prosecutor general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said investigations were ongoing to determine the full circumstances and motives of the incident. The co-pilot's identity has been reported as Hamam al-Hammami by multiple media outlets, although this has not been officially confirmed.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Business Recorder, GBC Ghana — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.