Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe, UAE official says

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and tried to take control of the aircraft, according to the UAE prosecutor general. The plane plunged more than 17,000ft, but passengers entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker, and other crew members landed the aircraft safely.

Machchhar, who was stabbed, said he was injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the plane was descending and made one last effort to open the door. He was taken to hospital and is reported to be stable and recovering well. Investigations into the incident and its motives are ongoing; the attacker was identified as an Omani national, while claims about his motives have been made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.