The co-pilot of a flydubai flight used an emergency cockpit crash axe in an attempted terrorist attack and tried to seize control of the aircraft, according to the United Arab Emirates attorney general. The attorney general says the 'terrorist attack' was attempted by the suspect, who is said to have been barred from flying by Oman because of extremist views.
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was bound for Israel. Officials revealed that the co-pilot's actions sent the plane into a sharp plunge, nearly causing a crash with 182 people on board. The situation was stabilized after passengers and crew members intervened to subdue him.
Investigators are now focusing on how the co-pilot was permitted to fly. A person familiar with the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the co-pilot had previously been barred from flying by Oman due to concerns over his extremist views. He had worked for Oman's national carrier, Oman Air, before being removed from flight duties and reassigned to an administrative role. Oman's decision to bar him from flying was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The co-pilot, born in the UAE to a Syrian mother, was subsequently hired by the Dubai-based flydubai. It remains unclear what level of vetting he underwent prior to his hiring. The case raises significant security questions, particularly as Israel maintains agreements with foreign airlines to exclude pilots from its airspace who represent nations without formal diplomatic ties. Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations.
Security agencies from four regional nations, with assistance from the United States and other Western governments, are collaborating to determine the co-pilot's motives. Both the captain and the co-pilot have been taken to the UAE, which is leading the international investigation with participation from several countries, including Israel.
Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser to the UAE, described the incident on Friday as a "dangerous terrorist act." The event serves as a significant test for the UAE government, which prides itself on robust security measures but has historically reacted strongly to criticisms of security lapses.
Little else was immediately known about the co-pilot’s background. His Instagram account was active until the day of the flight and then deleted. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalisation," though he did not provide evidence to support the assertion.
