The 29-year-old Omani national, Hamam Al Hammami, allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machchhar, with a cockpit crash axe while FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The aircraft, which was carrying 182 passengers and crew members, reportedly plunged about 14,000 feet in 29 seconds after the alleged attack before passengers and crew members managed to restrain Al Hammami.
The flight was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
One passenger, Hayoun, reportedly said Al Hammami placed his knees on the aircraft’s controls as though attempting to interfere with the instruments. He said he grabbed the co-pilot by the throat while at least three other Israeli passengers helped restrain and tie him up.
Hayoun also said he briefly took control of the aircraft after noticing that it was pointing downward, before an off-duty pilot took over.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Al Hammami had “attempted to carry out a terrorist act”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
Reports further claimed that Al Hammami had previously been removed from flying duties at Oman Air after allegedly being found with extremist material.
Authorities are investigating how he was subsequently employed by FlyDubai and whether he acted alone.
The allegations against Al Hammami have not been established in court.
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