Flydubai co‑pilot attacks captain with axe on Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight
Based on · First reported
Sources
- On 30 September, a Flydubai co‑pilot attacked the captain with an axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and attempted to take control of the Boeing 737 Max 8; passengers and crew overpowered him and stabilized the aircraft.
- The attacker, an Omani citizen who had previously flown for Oman Air, had been banned from flying by his former employer because of radicalisation, yet was hired by Flydubai; an axe is required in the cockpit under international aviation regulations and was moved there after the 9/11 attacks.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the importance of thorough crew vetting and the role of mandated safety equipment in commercial aviation.
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