The UAE has described the incident as a terrorist attack. Al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, was detained in Saudi Arabia and later brought back to the UAE for questioning.

Co-pilot hijacked a Flydubai flight with an axe in a thwarted terror-plot; investigation expands across UAE, Saudi, Israel.

Co-pilot hijacked a Flydubai flight with an axe in a thwarted terror-plot; investigation expands across UAE, Saudi, Israel.

The co-pilot was identified as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami. Read more at straitstimes.com.

According to the UAE Attorney General's statement, the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe before attempting to take control of the aircraft. The flight was carrying 174 passengers when the attack took place, and passengers and crew members intervened to overpower the co-pilot.

According to the UAE Attorney General's statement, the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe before attempting to take control of the aircraft. The flight was carrying 174 passengers when the attack took place, and passengers and crew members intervened to overpower the co-pilot.