The Omani co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami used a crash axe to attack Indian pilot Smit Machchhar on flydubai flight FZ1073, an act that the UAE and Israel have labelled a terrorist attack.

Analysis

The claim is plausible because it aligns with eyewitness accounts from crew members and passengers, as well as official statements from the UAE prosecutor general and Israeli officials. Public belief is reinforced by the dramatic nature of an axe‑attack in a cockpit, a scenario rarely seen in aviation incidents. However, some early reports described the event merely as an "altercation," leading to confusion about intent. The broader context—reports that the co‑pilot had been barred from flying in Oman due to alleged extremist views—adds a layer of political sensitivity and raises questions about airline hiring and background‑check procedures. Clarifying that the attack involved a crash axe and was classified as terrorism helps readers understand the seriousness of the security breach and the potential need for stricter vetting of crew members.