FlyDubai hijacking: Who is the co-pilot and what we know and don’t know about his motive | Today’s news
A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an altercation in the cockpit in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to take control of the plane, Reuters reported. The incident raised questions about the co-pilot’s background, possible motive and how he was cleared to fly.
The UAE ordered an investigation into the incident, including whether it was linked to terrorist activity, whether there was pre-planning and what motivated the attack. Saudi authorities are detaining the second pilot, while Israeli officials also said they were conducting their own investigation.
Here’s what we know and what remains unclear.
What happened on the flight?
Quick answers to key questions
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A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to take control of the plane, causing it to drop rapidly.
The United Arab Emirates is investigating the incident for potential terrorist links and motives, while Israeli officials have suggested there may be jihadist motives.
The second pilot is said to be an Omani national who joined FlyDubai less than a year ago and has been described as unusually religious, with alleged radicalized views.
The passengers, along with the off-duty pilots traveling on the flight, intervened by overpowering the co-pilot and helping to land the plane safely after the emergency signal.
FlyDubai pilots must meet strict requirements, including holding relevant licenses and medical certificates, as well as passing psychological examinations under the GCAA.
FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when a violent altercation broke out between two pilots in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, falling from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet within a minute before being diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and then tried to crash the plane.
The captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was seriously injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and overpower the alleged attacker, according to multiple reports.
Off-duty FlyDubai pilots traveling as passengers then took control of the plane and helped it land safely in Tabuk, according to a Times of Israel report.
Several media reports suggested that the alleged attacker may have used the plane’s emergency crash ax during the confrontation. Netanyahu also said the co-pilot reportedly used a chop ax from the cockpit during the melee.
Read also | Flydubai horror: Machchhar captain stabbed, flight diverted to Saudi Arabia — Timeline
Was it a terrorist attack?
The UAE Attorney General ordered an investigation into the circumstances and motives, including whether the incident was related to terrorist activity, involved prior planning or was directed by other individuals.
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that available information points to a possible “jihadist” motive, but stressed that this cannot be known until the investigation is complete.
Who is the co-pilot?
Very little has been officially confirmed about the alleged attacker.
After the plane landed in Tabuk, he was taken into custody by Saudi authorities. Reports have identified him as an Omani national, although no official confirmation of his citizenship has yet been announced.
Reports also said he joined FlyDubai less than a year ago. One fellow pilot told Israel’s Channel 16 that he joined about eight months ago.
The pilot described the co-pilot as unusually religious, claiming he prayed excessively and refused to shake hands with women.
Read also | FlyDubai passengers tell of ‘abduction’, 18,000ft drop
What has been alleged about his social media activity?
An Israeli official told The Times of Israel that the co-pilot’s social media accounts allegedly contained references to killing Jews and suggested he had been radicalized into a “jihadist” ideology.
Netanyahu separately told Fox News that the co-pilot had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.” He also said the co-pilot repeatedly called on the crew to kill him.
What was the co-pilot’s motive?
The motive remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
Israel is increasingly describing the incident as a jihadist attack, while a UAE investigation is looking into the motive, any possible terrorist links and whether the incident was planned.
Passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot also told Netanyahu that they did not know during the incident whether other crew members were involved in the alleged plot.
How was he allowed to fly?
The incident also raised questions about the vetting and medical examination of commercial pilots.
FlyDubai is a United Arab Emirates operator certified and operationally supervised by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The European Union’s aviation safety agency told Reuters that the oversight includes ensuring airlines meet requirements regarding flight crews and their airworthiness.
According to the GCAA framework cited by Al Jazeera, professional pilots must hold the appropriate aircraft license and type rating, hold a current Class 1 medical certificate, demonstrate proficiency in English and meet the required flight experience standards.
Class 1 medical process also includes physical and mental health. Pilots with certain psychiatric conditions or substance abuse concerns may be referred for further evaluation before being declared fit to fly.
What about security checks for pilots flying to Israel?
Israeli media reported that an agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates requires pilots flying to Israel to hold passports from countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel.
What happened after the attack?
The plane landed safely in Tabuk after passengers and crew subdued the alleged attacker.
The two co-pilots who subsequently took control of the plane were already traveling on the flight, according to a Channel 12 report cited by The Times of Israel.
The presence of qualified pilots on board allowed them to take over after a cockpit incident and help land the aircraft safely.
What happened to the injured Indian pilot?
Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed during the incident, was first treated in Saudi Arabia before being flown to the UAE.
India’s embassy in the UAE said Ambassador Deepak Mittal had visited Machchhar and his family in hospital and that the captain was “in good health and recovering well”.
The embassy also said it remains in contact with local authorities regarding his medical care.
