Co-pilot is said to have deliberately crashed Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv
Quick Look
- The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is said to have tried to intentionally crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport, according to US media.
- According to Emirati intelligence, he attacked the pilot with a rescue axe, whereupon passengers intervened and the crew made an emergency landing of the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- The investigation is ongoing in the United Arab Emirates and Israel assumes an attempted terrorist attack.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was the target of a suspected attack on the pilot by the co-pilot last Wednesday. According to Emirati findings, the co-pilot attacked the pilot with a rescue axe. Despite serious injuries, the pilot was able to open the cockpit door, whereupon passengers entered and overpowered the attacker. A second crew landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to US media, the co-pilot of the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv wanted to crash the plane into Israel's Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. This is reported by the US broadcaster ABC News, among others, citing two high-ranking US officials and an Israeli source familiar with the investigation. The radio station NPR has similar information from an ongoing investigation into the incident. It is assumed that the co-pilot probably acted alone, NPR quotes a source familiar with the matter.
The US broadcaster CNN also reports that the suspected attacker was probably targeting Ben Gurion Airport. He relies on an Israeli official and an Israeli source familiar with the matter. Accordingly, the United Arab Emirates, which has initiated investigations, is keeping Israel informed about the status of the investigations. The investigation is still at an early stage. There are still unanswered questions about the alleged attacker's intentions, it said.
The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv last Wednesday when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot. According to Emirati information, he attacked him with a rescue axe. Despite serious injuries, the pilot was able to open the cockpit door, whereupon passengers entered and overpowered the attacker. A second crew landed the plane, which sank heavily during the attack, in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot was brought to the Emirates and, according to Israeli information, comes from Oman.
Israel and the authorities in the United Arab Emirates assume an attempted terrorist attack. The co-pilot tried to take control of the aircraft, the Emirati news agency Wam recently reported, citing the Attorney General's Office.
US media reported a few days ago that the co-pilot had been fired from his previous job at an airline in Oman due to safety concerns. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, wrote that the man had previously been banned from flying by Oman. The reason for this was the fear that he had radical ideological approaches. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he was indoctrinated into Islam.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The investigation is expected to be completed and official results published within the next few weeks.
Likely · Within weeks
Flydubai will review and potentially tighten its safety protocols for cockpit personnel.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What exact motives did the co-pilot have for the alleged attack?
- Was the co-pilot actually acting alone or were there people behind him?
- How was the co-pilot able to get a position with Flydubai despite previous safety concerns and a ban on flights in Oman?
- What concrete evidence is there to support the accusation of Islamist indoctrination?
