A United Arab Emirates official says a Flydubai co-pilot attacked the flight's captain with a crash axe, according to BBC reporting. The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight 1073, the same flight at the center of a growing investigation into what authorities are treating as a possible attack.
Coverage of the suspect's background has expanded in the days since. CNN reports that terrorist images were found on the suspect's social media accounts. The Wall Street Journal reports that Oman had previously barred the individual from flying. The New York Times, meanwhile, has raised the question of why four pilots were aboard flight 1073, a staffing detail that has drawn scrutiny.
The Guardian reports that speculation over the motive remains unresolved, with questions raised about whether the episode amounted to an attempt at suicide by plane or an act of terrorism. No single explanation has been confirmed by investigators.
The limited official statements released so far leave several central questions unanswered, including the captain's condition and the precise sequence of events in the cockpit. The UAE official's account, as carried by the BBC, is the most specific description of the attack made public to date.
Further details are expected as investigators in the UAE and other countries where the suspect had a documented history continue their work. Watch for official findings on the motive and on how the suspect was able to board the flight despite the reported prior restriction.
