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The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters<\/i>. UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of his identity.<\/p>\n
The co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the prosecutor general said.<\/p>\n
A crash axe is typically kept in the cockpit for use during emergencies such as crashes.<\/p>\n
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.<\/p>\n
UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi’s comments were the first by Emirati authorities to describe the incident as an attempted “terrorist” attack.<\/p>\n
Disaster was averted on Wednesday after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, who had attacked the captain in what Israeli officials said was an apparent attempt to crash the plane carrying more than 170 passengers and crew.<\/p>\n
A reserve flydubai pilot travelling on the flight took control of the aircraft and landed it at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities.<\/p>\n
flydubai said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation and that it was not in a position to comment further, a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
An Israeli government official told Reuters<\/i> earlier that Israeli investigators would take part alongside Emirati authorities in the UAE-led investigation, which would examine what happened as well as the suspect’s motives and background.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was looking into whether the co-pilot had acted under anyone’s direction, warning that anyone involved would pay a “heavy price”.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said on Thursday that the co-pilot, whom he identified as an Omani national, had undergone radical indoctrination and appeared suicidal, though he said a motive had not yet been established. Most of the passengers on board were Israeli nationals.<\/p>\n
The aircraft dropped about 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds while flying over Saudi Arabia on its journey from the UAE to Israel, according to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24. The route is popular among Israeli travellers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n