Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacks Captain with Axe in Hijacking Attempt

A Flydubai co-pilot attempted to hijack a flight bound for Israel and attacked the captain with an axe, according to United Arab Emirates prosecutors. The aircraft was carrying over 170 passengers and plummeted from an altitude of 5,200 meters about two and a half hours into the flight. Captain Smit Machchar, despite being injured and falling to the floor, managed to break open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to intervene and subdue the attacker. The flight was safely diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia. Initial reports suggested a knife was used, but prosecutors confirmed the weapon was an emergency axe kept on board as standard safety equipment, raising security concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the suspect as an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami in foreign media reports. Investigations revealed the suspect was previously dismissed from Oman Air due to extremist views and had briefly studied in Australia.