⚡️🇦🇪🇴🇲🇮🇱 — The United Arab Emirates has officially described the mid-air attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 as an attempted "terrorist act," saying the co-pilot used the cockpit's emergency crash axe to attack the captain and tried to seize control of the aircraft, according to the UAE Attorney General.

The co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances, motives, and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said.

Disaster was averted last Wednesday after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot. A reserve flydubai pilot travelling on the flight took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained.

The aircraft, carrying 182 people, dropped about 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds over Saudi Arabia, according to flight-tracking data. The captain, Smit Machchhar, was badly wounded but managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and restrain the attacker.

A person familiar with the matter said Oman had previously barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns he had adopted extremist views, and he was moved to an administrative role at Oman Air before being hired by flydubai. It was not immediately clear how extensively he was vetted before joining the UAE-based airline.

➡️ Israeli investigators are taking part in the UAE-led probe. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalization" and appeared suicidal, though he said a motive had not yet been established. Flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.

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