Crew of flydubai demanded release of co-pilot after he attacked Smit, claim flyers

The crew of the flydubai flight allegedly asked passengers to release the co-pilot after they had subdued him following an attack on the pilot mid-air, according to two passengers who spoke to the New York Post.Tzvika Manes, one of three Israeli passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot, told the New York Post that crew members were “asking us to untie the terrorist”. Another passenger, Daniel Schlichter, said the crew were “saying to free the terrorist”, which immediately made the passengers suspicious.The incident occurred on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar with a crash axe. Machchhar, despite being seriously injured, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.Manes, along with Yaniv Hayoun and Asaf Rajuan, confronted al-Hammami and overpowered him.