Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe to attack captain, says UAE
UAE authorities have identified a mid-flight incident on a Flydubai plane as an attempted terrorist attack by a co-pilot using a cockpit crash axe. The suspect, an Omani national, had previously been barred from flying in Oman due to extremist views.
Why it matters
This incident highlights critical security vulnerabilities in cockpit safety protocols and the potential for insider threats in aviation.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, the captain of flydubai flight FZ 1073, whose quick thinking was praised after the incident./Getty Images Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, the captain of flydubai flight FZ 1073, whose quick thinking was praised after the incident./Getty Images Flydubai plane incident Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe to attack captain, says UAE Attorney general says ‘terrorist attack’ was attempted by suspect who is said to have been barred from flying by Oman because of extremist views
Prefer the Guardian on Google The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 used an axe to attempt to carry out a “terrorist attack” during the Israel-bound flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.
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