Crime · updated 27m ago · 3 min read
Benjamin Netanyahu Says Flydubai Pilot Stabbed Co-Pilot, Tried To Crash FZ1073
Co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the Flydubai flight toward Tel Aviv. The plane diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; investigators treated it as a possible terrorist act, not hijacking.
Whether accounts and motives are confirmed.
7 of 8 outlets skipped it: yaniv Hayun watched a specific TV show and used it to pull the controls.
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WWFMD Free Talk
“The passenger’s account of an apparent stabbing has not been confirmed by Flydubai or authorities.”Read the original ↗
ABC News
“According to our preliminary information, the terrorist had a single objective: to crash the plane, killing everyone on board,”Read the original ↗
WFMD Free Talk and ABC News diverge on confidence in the stabbing account and motive claims. Most outlets otherwise back the same cockpit-to-crash attempt narr…
Cockpit stabbing attempt
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a pilot aboard a Flydubai flight carrying mostly Israeli passengers stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane before passengers and crew subdued him, and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu said the suspected attacker had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities, and he described the incident as “extremely serious” as the aircraft went into a spin and began plunging as it approached Israel. The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073, which flight-tracking data showed plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before transmitting emergency signals, and both pilots were hospitalized after the plane landed.
Captain Smit Machchhar later told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he forced himself to make “one last push” to reach the cockpit door, and he said the attacker was still beating him when he managed to open it. The sources also described the attacker as an Omani citizen who was detained and remains under investigation, while the alleged target and motive had not yet been established.
Security scrutiny and vetting
Eyal Hulata said Israel’s security focus had traditionally centered on passengers and their luggage, warning that “That will probably change now and crew members will be subject to heavier screening.” Aviation security expert Menachem Bachrach said, “Before we’re jumping to tighten security, I would just say it’s likely that somebody didn’t follow the protocols,” as investigators worked to determine how the attack happened in the cockpit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would increase security precautions on flights coming into the country whether or not they were operated by Israel, and he said Israel has long-standing agreements with foreign carriers to keep pilots from flying into the country if they are citizens of nations that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.
Doron Spielman said there were no Israeli air marshals on the FlyDubai flight and that Israel would vet pilots flying into Israel and know their identities. Philip Baum said Dubai International Airport built its appeal around a reputation for safety and that it is “very conscious” it cannot afford a terrorist attack happening on a flight out of there.
Possible Iran link
Donald Trump said Iran would be hit with a “very harsh” strike if it is proven to be connected to the flight crew member who tried to down the FlyDubai plane, and he told reporters, “They will be struck, and very hard; do not worry.” Trump said, “We’re looking into that now,” when asked at the White House about whether he had been briefed on links between the flight-crew member and Tehran, and he added, “I would say the answer, based on what I’ve heard, is yes, but we’re looking into it now.” The UAE said it formed a team of public prosecutors under UAE Attorney General حمد سيف الشامسي to investigate the incident, and it said the investigation would examine circumstances, motives, and whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or involved premeditation or direction.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said the plane landed safely at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board, and it said all passengers resumed their journey at 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday aboard a FlyDubai substitute aircraft. The sources also said the captain and his assistant left Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning after their health improved, while the UAE and Saudi authorities continued investigations into motives and responsibility.