Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Pilot With Axe in Attempted Hijacking, UAE Says

The co-pilot of a Flydubai plane traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the pilot with a crash axe in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft, according to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general. The incident occurred on a flight carrying more than 170 people, which plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) two and a half hours into its journey.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, the pilot, recounted that he was on the cockpit floor, injured, when he realized the plane was descending and took action. "I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside," he said.

Passengers aboard the aircraft were able to enter the cockpit and subdue the attacker. The plane was safely landed by on-duty crew members who were traveling on the flight. A crash axe is typically kept in the cockpit for emergency use.

The UAE attorney general indicated that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances and motives behind the incident. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot who carried out the attack was an Omani national.

Netanyahu told Fox News that after being subdued, the attacker urged the crew to "Kill me, kill me!" The prime minister suggested that the attacker was suicidal and likely intended to down the plane. Netanyahu also stated that the attacker had "undergone Islamist radical indoctrination."

The UAE has initiated an investigation into whether the incident was connected to any terrorist activity, according to the country's state news agency. Capt. Machchhar, who sustained stab wounds during the attack, was initially taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. He is reported to be in stable condition and recovering well, according to the Indian embassy in the UAE.