DUBAI(National Times)- The United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday it is investigating a possible terrorist link to an apparent attempt by a co-pilot to crash a flydubai passenger jet headed to Israel.
The dramatic events on Wednesday ended with the plane making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and passengers receiving a hero’s welcome from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon arriving in Tel Aviv.
Disaster was averted on flight FZ1073 from Dubai after the wounded captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker.
Passengers described rushing the cockpit after the flight suddenly nosedived, losing nearly 14,000 feet of altitude in less than 30 seconds over Saudi Arabia.
Israel says initial assessment points to co-pilot acting alone; mental health concerns not ruled out
The airline stated that an off-duty Dubai Reserve crew member travelling on the flight diverted and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk. Both pilots were hospitalised after sustaining injuries.
The UAE’s chief prosecutor said an investigation has been launched to determine circumstances and motives, including whether the incident was linked to terrorist activity or involved prior planning. UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction because the aircraft flies under its flag.
Flydubai suspended flights to Israel during the investigation and warned against premature speculation.
Two Israeli security officials said on Thursday that Israel’s initial assessment is that the co-pilot, identified by an Israeli official as an Omani national, likely acted alone. Israel’s envoy to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, cautioned that no motive had been determined.
Netanyahu called the event a serious security incident, but told CBS News that mental health could not be ruled out.
“He’ll be, I assume, moved very quickly to Dubai,” Netanyahu spoke of the alleged attacker, who was being questioned in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, for his “extraordinary bravery”. India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was hospitalised.
Passengers were also lauded for preventing a mid-air catastrophe. Yaniv Hayun, one of the men who incapacitated the attacker, described running to the cockpit as the plane plummeted.
“We pulled the assailant out; I pulled him out. After I pulled him out, we took control of the plane, I pulled up the yoke, and I straightened the plane out a bit,” Hayun told reporters.
US President Donald Trump, after discussing the incident with Netanyahu, said: “It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack-job.”
