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The UAE prosecutor general described the incident as a “terrorist attack”, saying the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe.

Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national under arrest and being questioned in the United Arab Emirates, allegedly told investigators he intended to seize control of the plane after attacking the captain, before continuing to fly normally until the aircraft received landing clearance.

He allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into a building or another jet at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to reports in Hebrew-language media.

Two Israeli officials said al-Hammami had planned the attack before joining Flydubai, while a third source briefed on the UAE investigation said he had previously operated a flight to Tel Aviv, and had considered hijacking and crashing that aircraft as well.

The source said al-Hammami ultimately abandoned the earlier plan, although it was not immediately clear why.

Channel 13 reported that al-Hammami told investigators: “I looked into which airline flies to Tel Aviv. That’s why I chose Flydubai. I planned it even before I was accepted.”

He is believed to have known someone on board that prior flight, which “may have influenced his decision”, the source said.

UAE and Israeli authorities are yet to issue any kind of official comment, as is true with Flydubai.

According to reports, al-Hammami waited until the aircraft was over Jordan before attempting to seize control of the cockpit.

His plan was disrupted after Captain Smit Machchhar, despite being attacked and stabbed, managed to open the cockpit door.

A number of Israeli passengers then intervened and restrained the co-pilot.

One passenger helped stabilise the aircraft, before two off-duty pilots travelling on board took over the controls and managed to safely divert and land the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Reports said al-Hammami had visited Ben Gurion Airport several times in recent months while operating Flydubai flights.

Investigators were told that during a visit in June, he “focused on gathering information and planning an attack”.

He allegedly intended to carry out the plan in July, but cancelled it at the last moment because he was friends with one of the crew members.

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Israeli investigators have not directly questioned al-Hammami. The information was reportedly passed to Israel through Saudi and Emirati investigations.

Israel has asked the UAE to expand its questioning to include the flight attendants, according to Channel 12.

Investigators believe that by waiting until the final stage of the flight, the suspect hoped to prevent the crew or passengers from recognising what was happening early enough to raise an alarm and stop the attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin ⁠Netanyahu has said pilots who are citizens of countries that Israel does not have diplomatic relations with, including Oman, are not permitted to operate flights to Israel, and immediately suspended all Flydubai flights into the country.