Serious questions remain over the incident aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
The Boeing aircraft, carrying around 170 passengers, suddenly lost altitude while flying over Saudi Arabia. According to Flightradar24 data, it descended more than 17,000 feet (around 5,200 metres) in less than two minutes. It initially transmitted a general distress signal, followed by a code indicating unlawful interference or hijacking.
Passengers and crew members managed to enter the cockpit and restrain the alleged attacker. Two FlyDubai pilots travelling as passengers then took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, who had been in stable condition at a hospital in the city, was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The captain who was stabbed was transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
The alleged attacker was arrested in Saudi Arabia and is being questioned. According to Benjamin Netanyahu, he is expected to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates. However, key aspects of the case remain unclear, according to The New York Times. Officials have not publicly disclosed his motive, whether he acted alone, or whether he intended to crash the aircraft, divert it to a third country, or pursue some other objective.
Israeli officials have described the incident as a possible terrorist act, potentially involving Iran. So far, however, they have not publicly presented evidence establishing a specific motive or external direction. FlyDubai, for its part, has confirmed only that there was an “altercation in the cockpit” and has urged against drawing premature conclusions before the official investigation is completed.
Sources: New York Times [1], [2], Reuters, BBC
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