Wanted to crash plane, not afraid to die: flydubai co-pilot's chilling admission

The flydubai co-pilot who attacked Captain Smit Machchhar told investigators in Saudi Arabia that he wanted to crash the plane and was not afraid of death, according to a Saudi official briefed on his interrogation, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

Hamam al-Hammami, the 29-year-old Omani national, is now being questioned by authorities in the UAE after being brought back from Saudi Arabia, where the flight made an emergency landing following the attack.

The UAE attorney general on Saturday



said the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel are investigating the incident, including whether Hammami had any links to outside powers.

Hammami is accused of repeatedly slashing the captain with an onboard crash axe before attempting to take control of the aircraft. The captain eventually managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

The flight was carrying more than 170 people when the attack took place.