The motive, background, and affiliations of the Omani co-pilot who stabbed his captain in an apparent attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight from Dubai remain unknown, as international teams begin investigating the incident. On Wednesday, Israeli passengers stepped in to stop the attack, restraining the co-pilot, while a reserve crew on the plane managed to stabilize the diving aircraft and land it safely in Saudi Arabia.
A ‘hero’ pilot, plumber, and dentist were among those who saved the flydubai flight to Israel. More than 170 people were on board, and Israeli officials praised the bravery of those who intervened, announcing that four Israeli passengers would receive a “heroism” award for preventing a potential disaster.
Saudi investigators, who initially detained the co-pilot after landing, were working with the UAE, the US, Oman, and Israel to determine the attacker’s motive, according to a regional official familiar with the investigation. “All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now,” they told the Associated Press.
Benjamin Netanyahu said it was still unclear who might ultimately be behind the apparent attempted attack. The Israeli prime minister told Fox News it was “too early to say” whether Iran was involved. “We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind it. I think we’ll find out very soon,” Netanyahu said.
The incident came just days after Netanyahu warned of an unspecified security threat to Israel that could occur during its October election. The Israeli military had said before the incident that it had no specific intelligence of an imminent threat, while opposition leader Yair Lapid said a security briefing on Tuesday night made no mention of a related threat.
Other Israeli officials, including defense minister Israel Katz and UN ambassador Danny Danon, suggested the incident was a “terror attack,” with the Israeli foreign ministry briefing its diplomats that the attack was against Israel and its relationship with the UAE. Danon told Fox News that Israel had “no doubt it was a terror attack from a radical individual,” but said investigators had not yet established any link to a specific organization or state.
Donald Trump suggested the co-pilot was “perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job,” while telling reporters at the White House that he and Netanyahu had spoken at length. Netanyahu also spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed to Israel’s involvement in the investigation.
Flydubai said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended during the investigation and urged all parties “to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts.”
The UAE announced on Thursday that it would conduct its own investigation into the incident, which began about two and a half hours after takeoff from Dubai. It said its investigators had begun looking into the attacker’s motive and whether he had any links to a “terrorist purpose.”
Passengers said they saw a knife-wielding man – apparently the Omani co-pilot – forcing the captain to the floor, after which the plane began to dive. The wounded pilot, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, managed to send an emergency signal and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and stop the plane’s descent.
A video shared by the prime minister’s office showed one passenger, Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber, speaking to Netanyahu at length about how the events on board unfolded. Hayoun told the prime minister that he and other passengers heard screaming and felt the air pressure change as the plane dived before they forced their way into the cockpit and found the attacker at the instrument panel. “I grabbed the attacker, put“He put him in a chokehold and dragged him out first,” Hayoun said during a meeting with Netanyahu after the plane landed safely and the passengers were flown to Israel. Machchhar was widely praised for his bravery, with Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him a hero. India’s ambassador to the UAE met the wounded captain’s family and updated them on his recovery, the Indian consulate in the UAE said. Machchhar was being treated in a hospital in Tabuk. “Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi said in a social media post. “In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the stabbing incident in the flydubai cockpit and the resulting international investigation
What exactly happened on the flydubai flight
A pilot was stabbed in the cockpit during a flight The plane landed safely but the reason for the attack is currently unknown
Who was involved in the incident
The incident involved crew members inside the cockpit Authorities have not released all the specific details about the individuals involved yet
Was anyone killed
Reports indicate that the pilot was injured We are waiting for official confirmation on the condition of everyone involved
Where did this happen
It happened on a flydubai flight The specific route and location of the plane at the time of the incident are part of the ongoing investigation
Why did the stabbing happen
Right now nobody knows The motive is unknown and that is the main focus of the investigation
Who is investigating the incident
An international investigation has begun This means authorities from the country where the plane is registered and the country where it landed are working together
What does international investigation mean
It means multiple countries are cooperating to find out what happened Because aviation involves crossing borders different nations share information to solve the case
Is it safe to fly flydubai now
Aviation authorities take these incidents very seriously While this is a rare event safety protocols are being reviewed to ensure it doesnt happen again
Have they found the weapon
Authorities have not released details about the weapon to the public yet This information is usually kept secret during an active investigation
What is a cockpit
The cockpit is the area at the front of the plane where the pilots sit to fly and control the aircraft
Why is the cockpit significant in this case
The cockpit is a highsecurity area Investigating how a weapon got inside or how the incident occurred there is a top priority for safety experts
What usually happens when there is a security breach on a plane
The plane is usually met by law enforcement upon landing The crew follows emergency procedures to secure the aircraft and passengers first
How long will the investigation take
Investigations like this can take weeks months or even longer It depends on how complex the evidence is and how many countries are involved
Will the investigation report be public
Usually a final report is released
