The UAE is seeking the harshest possible punishment, potentially including the death penalty, for the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of flydubai Flight FZ1073.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia on September 30 after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Passengers and crew members intervened and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk.
UAE authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack. Investigators are examining the co-pilot’s previous aviation career, online activity and how he returned to flying duties after earlier concerns had reportedly been raised about him.
The case has attracted major attention across the UAE and South Asian expatriate communities because the captain is Indian and the flight departed from Dubai.