UAE authorities begin full-scale investigation into Flydubai plane co-pilot stabbing captain

UAE authorities have begun a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in which the captain of a low-cost Flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was stabbed by the co-pilot and the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia while on a flight to Israel. As Israel points out the connection to Islamic extremism, the focus is on elucidating the motive and how the murder weapon was obtained.

Passengers praise co-pilot for taking control; stabbed captain also unlocks cockpit door; makes emergency landing with ``extraordinary bravery''

The UAE government announced on the 1st, ``We will set up a specialized team of prosecutors. We will investigate the circumstances and causes of the incident, including its connection to terrorist acts.''

According to the Israeli government, the co-pilot shouted, "Kill me" when he was overpowered by the passengers. The passenger reportedly said, ``I guess he didn't reach his goal and wanted to die.''

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on a US FOX TV program that the co-pilot was inspired by Islamic extremism, but did not provide any concrete evidence. The co-pilot, an Omani national who has no diplomatic relations with Israel, complained that he should not have boarded the Israeli flight.

We are still waiting to find out how the co-pilot came into possession of the murder weapon. The New York Times reported that there are two possible cases: either he slipped through the metal detector at the airport security check and brought it onto the plane, or he used the ax the plane was equipped with for emergencies.

Cooperation between the countries involved will be key to future investigations. However, Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and the Wall Street Journal reported that ``the progress of the investigation is likely to be affected.'' The co-pilot had already been transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, but the Israeli government was reportedly requesting that he be transferred outside Saudi Arabia to face criminal charges.