Flydubai's co-pilot, who has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, used an 'emergency crash ax' on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, in an attempt to hijack the plane.

US media reports identified Hamam al-Hammami as the flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar and trying to seize the cockpit. The episode, which ended with an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, has intensified scrutiny of his background and possible extremist motive.