Investigation Underway After FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Attacks Captain Mid-Flight
Authorities investigate a violent mid-flight incident involving a FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.
POLICY WIRE — Dubai, UAE — Authorities are working to uncover the identity and motives of a FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger jet during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred as the aircraft neared Israeli airspace, prompting a mid-air struggle that forced an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot attacked the flight captain with a knife. The captain successfully defended himself and managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and subdue the assailant.
Two off-duty pilots traveling on the flight stepped in to take control of the aircraft, ensuring a safe landing. There were 174 individuals on board, and while the captain suffered stab wounds, no passengers sustained serious injuries.
Saudi officials confirmed that two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries following the event. The co-pilot was taken into custody immediately and remains under interrogation by Saudi authorities.
While the co-pilot has not been publicly identified, Israeli officials have characterized the event as a targeted act. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that information gathered during questioning suggests the co-pilot underwent Islamist radical indoctrination, though he provided no further details.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the event an attempted jihadist terror attack, referring to the co-pilot as a terrorist. Netanyahu indicated that Israeli officials intend to participate in the ongoing interrogation process to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
