Flydubai Mid-Air Attack: Omani Co-Pilot Posted About Killing Jews, Refused to Shake Hands With Women
The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight had posted content on social media about killing Jewish people, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.
According to the publication, the official cited accounts from passengers on board the aircraft, saying the co-pilot repeatedly urged Emirati crew members to kill him as the confrontation unfolded inside the cockpit.
“This was a person who was willing to commit suicide,” the official told The Times of Israel. “His social media accounts (say) clearly that he has been radicalised into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews.”
The official said the investigation was still underway, but preliminary findings suggested that the co-pilot may have intended to take his own life by bringing down the aircraft.
“We can’t say for sure until the investigation’s over,” the official was quoted as saying. “But it certainly seems like he was a suicide actor who was probably going to try to down that plane.”
The official further said the suspect was expected to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for further questioning after the preliminary investigation in Saudi Arabia. Israeli investigators are also participating in the inquiry.
“Our understanding is he’s going to be transferred to the UAE,” the official added. “We will be part of that investigation.”
Israel is also conducting a separate internal review of the incident and taking steps to revise existing aviation-related measures, the official told the publication.
Netanyahu Says Co-Pilot Underwent Islamist Radical Indoctrination
The latest revelations follow remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the co-pilot accused of attacking Captain Machchhar had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination.
Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu confirmed that the suspect was being interrogated and that Israeli investigators had joined the questioning.
The Israeli prime minister also suggested that the initial findings pointed to a possible attempt by the co-pilot to crash the aircraft.
Describing the events inside the plane, Netanyahu said the crew had restrained the suspect using earphone cords and plastic restraints.
“They had to use earphone cords to tie his hands and then used plastic cuffs. He is lying on the floor and he calls out to the crew 'kill me, kill me'. So, it is clear that he was suicidal and was going to down the plane,” Netanyahu told Fox and Friends.
According to Israeli media outlet Channel 16, a colleague of the suspect told the New York Post that he would refuse to shake hands with women. The colleague also described his conduct as “strange behaviour, especially around religious observances that were out of step with his surroundings.”
Saudi Arabia Conducting Preliminary Investigation
Saudi Arabian authorities are currently conducting the preliminary investigation into the incident involving the Omani co-pilot, who allegedly attempted to crash Flydubai flight FZ1073.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia following the mid-air confrontation.
Citing an Israeli official, The Times of Israel reported that the suspect would be handed over to Emirati authorities after the Saudi investigation concludes. Israeli officials reportedly expect the subsequent UAE inquiry to provide further details about the incident. ALSO READ: Stabbed by Co-Pilot at 34,000 Feet: How Indian Pilot Fought Back and Helped Save 174 Lives; Netanyahu, Modi Call Him ‘Hero’
Captain Smit Machchhar Injured in Cockpit Attack
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Despite sustaining stab wounds, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and restrain the attacker.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The injured captain was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Captain Machchhar was later admitted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care. The ambassador confirmed that the pilot was out of danger and recovering.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and the allegations and preliminary assessments have yet to be conclusively established by the authorities. ALSO READ: Flydubai Plane Plunged 18,000 Feet: Israeli Plumber Reveals How a TV Show Taught Him to Pull Up the Controls and Prevent a Crash
