Yesterday the co-pilot of a plane departing from Dubai and heading to Tel Aviv attacked the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane. The Israeli Prime Minister: "This is fanaticism and hatred of an incalculable level" and whoever foiled the attack managed "to prevent a catastrophe similar to that of September 11th". The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation
"It is too early" to say whether Iran played a role in what happened on Wednesday on the Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, where the co-pilot assaulted the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane. This was said by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who, speaking on Fox News, added that he did not know "the past" of the attacker but that "it was obvious that he hated Israelis". "I spoke to Bibi for a long time," US President Donald Trump later said, observing that "maybe the pilot was a terrorist or a madman. It's an incredible story." Meanwhile, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, has ordered the formation of a commission of inquiry to investigate the incident.
Netanyahu: "A catastrophe similar to September 11th was avoided"
Also on Fox News, Netanyahu added that "this is bigotry and hatred of an incalculable level." He then explained: "The pilot responsible for the attack is now under investigation in Saudi Arabia. I believe he will be extradited to the United Arab Emirates, where he comes from, or at least where he started from. We will follow the investigation closely and, if possible, participate in it." Then, speaking on CNN, the Israeli prime minister said that those who foiled the co-pilot's attempt "managed to prevent a catastrophe similar to that of September 11th". “Apparently, these are the specific motivations for this story,” he added, later explaining that he spoke to Trump “about this incredible, incredible act of heroism that averted a disaster that would not only have been a disaster for Israel, but you can imagine how it could have affected global aviation.” “What distinguishes this episode from other tragic attacks is that, in this case, the good guys won,” Netanyahu added.
What happened
The FlyDubai plane took off at 6.05am on Wednesday from Dubai for Tel Aviv, with 174 passengers on board, including 27 children, mostly Israelis. After two hours of flight, within 30 seconds he went from over 10,000 meters of altitude to 4,267 and at 8.31, while he was flying over the Arabian peninsula, the general emergency code came from the cabin. Seven minutes later, the aircraft transmitted code 7500: hijacking. Meanwhile, screams came from the cockpit and the aircraft went out of control. According to subsequent reconstruction, an off-duty pilot and four passengers ran towards the cockpit, where Commander Smith Machachar, an Indian, covered in blood, had been hit by the co-pilot with the emergency axe. The five saw the co-pilot trying to destroy the on-board instruments and, after a struggle that lasted about twenty minutes, they managed to tie his hands and feet. At that point two Israeli Air Force fighters had already taken off and the military leaders had gathered. Eventually, the plane turned back and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
What is known about the co-pilot
At the moment, it appears that the co-pilot acted as a "lone wolf". Little has been revealed about him: it is known that he is an Omani, probably with dual citizenship to be able to fly on a route for which Israel only authorizes crews from certain countries (and not Muscat). A colleague described him as fervently religious: "He prayed excessively throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women."
Herzog proposes the "4 Israeli heroes" for the Award for Civil Valor
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided that he will propose the four Israelis who took part in the FlyDubai flight for the awarding of the Presidential Award for Civil Valor. "You risked your lives to save others and averted a terrible tragedy. Today the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society," the president said while speaking to them. During the talks, Herzog expressed "his deep appreciation for the readiness, courage and sense of mutual responsibility demonstrated by the four in a situation of extreme danger" and communicated his intention to submit their story of heroism to the Advisory Committee for the Presidential Award for Civilian Valor and to recommend that the award be given to all four.
