Co-pilot used cockpit crash axe to attack Flydubai captain
The captain was badly wounded and repeatedly stabbed but used his remaining energy to unlock the cockpit door
A flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe during a Wednesday flight bound for Israel, in what UAE authorities have described as a "dangerous terrorist act", according to information provided.
The co-pilot attempted to seize control of Flydububai flight FZ1073, sending the aircraft carrying 182 people into a sharp plunge that nearly caused a crash, says The Guardian.
The captain was badly wounded and repeatedly stabbed but used his remaining energy to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and crew, hearing loud noises, rushed into the cockpit, tackled the co-pilot and subdued him, allowing the aircraft to be stabilised.
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The plane subsequently made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with visible damage to its tail.
Both the captain and co-pilot were later taken to the UAE, which is leading the primary investigation.
Questions over co-pilot's background
The co-pilot had previously flown for Oman's national carrier, Oman Air, but was removed from flight operations and reassigned to an administrative role because of concerns that he exhibited extremist views.
He was later hired by UAE-based flydubai, and investigators are focusing on the extent of the vetting conducted before his hiring.
Israel maintains policy agreements with foreign carriers restricting pilots from countries that do not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Oman, from operating in Israeli airspace.
The co-pilot's Instagram account remained active until the day of the flight, when it was deleted.
Investigation
UAE Prosecutor General and senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash formally classified the incident as a "dangerous terrorist act".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radicalisation", although no official evidence was publicly released alongside the claim.
Security agencies from four regional nations, as well as the US, Israel and other Western governments, are assisting the UAE in establishing the co-pilot's motives and timeline.
