One day after a FlyDubai co-pilot made an attempt to crash a passenger aircraft, concerns about his identity and motive continue to surface. This incident occurred as the flight was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported that the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and tried to crash the plane.
The flight captain managed to fend off the co-pilot momentarily, allowing the cockpit door to be unlocked. This enabled passengers to overpower the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots on board took control, leading to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. There were 174 individuals aboard, with no major injuries reported among passengers. The captain suffered stab wounds during the attack.
Identity of the Co-Pilot
The co-pilot’s identity has not been publicly disclosed. An Omani official confirmed to CBS News that the co-pilot was born in Oman and is an Omani citizen. However, the Omani government has not officially verified his nationality.
Motive Remains Unclear
The motive behind the attack remains unknown. Netanyahu suggested to CBS News that the event appeared to be a suicide attempt. Witnesses reportedly observed the co-pilot attempting to malfunction the equipment instead of stabilizing the aircraft. After being subdued, the co-pilot reportedly called for someone to kill him.
Netanyahu suggested that the co-pilot may have undergone ‘Islamist radical indoctrination’ based on personal information gathered during the investigation. Further details remain undisclosed.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the event as a ‘jihadist terror attack,’ branding the co-pilot a ‘terrorist.’ An Israeli security official informed CBS News that there is an investigation into whether it was an attempted terror attack similar to September 11, and whether the co-pilot had accomplices.
The incident occurs amidst heightened security warnings in Israel due to its operations against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Interrogation in the UAE
Following the incident, Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot. Netanyahu noted that the United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expects the co-pilot to be transferred to the UAE for further questioning. The timing of the transfer remains unspecified.
Netanyahu also mentioned that Israeli officials would participate in the interrogation to uncover the full details of the incident. However, it is unclear whether the current findings were derived from Saudi or Israeli questioning.