Moments of tension were experienced yesterday on the Flydubai flight to Israel. Hundreds of passengers saw their lives in danger after the co-pilot tried to take control of the plane after stabbing the pilot.
Initially, the first hypotheses pointed to a possible confrontation between both pilots without going any further. During the conflict, the plane issued an emergency alert, which meant that Israel would deploy several troops. The aircraft landed without damage in Saudi Arabia, and from there the investigation began.
Apparently it was an altercation between the crew, but it ended up being something much more serious. The first investigations indicated the possibility of an attempted terrorist attack, something that was confirmed hours later by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
A terrorist hidden among the crew
After the forced landing, the airline explained that all passengers were in good condition and that no injuries had been suffered. What was not detailed is the heroic act of several passengers who ended up arresting the terrorist.
Currently, the investigation is focusing on an alleged terrorist infiltration among the crew with the aim of killing the plane’s pilot, taking control of the flight and crashing the aircraft.
As Jana Beris, a journalist from this house, explained in More than Onethe authorities are trying to find out if it was really an attempted jihadist attack, as stressed by the Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, and what organization would be behind the attack.
Flydubai Heroes
The story of the Flydubai flight would be very different if several passengers had not intervened to prevent the incident. Beris details that the participation of the passengers was vital to avoid a fatality on the plane.
The attack by the co-pilot caused the aircraft to lose control, losing altitude and seeing its speed reduced. Faced with the attack, the pilot managed to open the cockpit and request help. A distress call that allowed three passengers to manage the situation.
One of them was in charge of strangling the attacker from behind, while another managed to tie him up with the cables of the headphones that were on board. The last of the participants, a dentist, managed to treat the badly injured captain so that he could take control of the plane again and make the emergency landing. Furthermore, the presence of a reserve pilot inside the aircraft was important to avoid the catastrophe.
However, beyond the help offered, the key to the altercation was the military experience of the passengers. Jana Beris assures that the mandatory military service that Israel establishes for all citizens was decisive in the situation. His proactive attitude and way of proceeding allowed everyone present to stay alive.
A catastrophe of great dimensions
Had the attack been completed successfully, the consequences would have been fatal. There were 174 passengers on the plane who had lost their lives at the hands of a terrorist of Omani origin.
According to Jana Beris, the attack would have had a magnitude similar to the attack on the Twin Towers in New York on September 11. Now, authorities are working to discover if it was a jihadist attack or if Iran is responsible for the attempted attack.
Emirati justice investigates the case
The Attorney General’s Office of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced this Thursday the creation of a team of specialized prosecutors to investigate whether the Flydubai flight incident had a terrorist background.
As reported by the Emirati news agency WAM, the country’s attorney general, Hamad Said, has ordered evidence to be collected to clarify the circumstances of the event, determine its motives and find out if there was “previous planning or link to terrorist activities.”
Likewise, the judicial entity has clarified that it assumes jurisdiction over the case because the aircraft flies under the Emirati flag, which allows its legislation to be applied to crimes committed on board even while abroad.
