Flydubai horror: Co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe, UAE says

The United Arab Emirates has said the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight attempted to carry out a terrorist attack after allegedly attacking the captain with a crash axe and trying to seize control of the aircraft.

According to Peoples Gazette, the UAE Attorney-General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, disclosed this in a statement published by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Saturday, following investigations into Flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely at Tabuk Airport. (WAM)

“Al Shamsi said the co-pilot began executing his plan during the flight, attacking the captain inside the flight deck using a crash axe and attempting to take control of the aircraft.”

The investigation is continuing to establish the circumstances, motives and possible links surrounding the incident, while authorities said technical and digital evidence was also being examined.

The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 30, prompting an emergency diversion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier said preliminary findings indicated that the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” although the UAE investigation into the motive remains ongoing.

Suggested headlines:

1. UAE: Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack On Flight
2. Flydubai Horror: Co-Pilot Attacked Captain With Crash Axe, UAE Says
3. UAE Probe: Flydubai Co-Pilot Tried To Seize Aircraft Control
4. Flydubai Flight: Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack, UAE Confirms
5. Co-Pilot Attacked Captain, Tried To Hijack Flydubai Flight – UAE

Emirates News Agency (WAM)