New Delhi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a big claim regarding the violent incident inside the cockpit of the flydubai flight going from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said that the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the plane's Indian Captain Smit Mosquito will be arrested. Radical Islamic ideology was taught. However, investigation is still going on regarding the motive and complete background of the incident. (reuters)
Pilot attacked in cockpit, plane comes down rapidly
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, a violent incident took place between the two pilots in the cockpit. According to reports, the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Mosquito, after which the aircraft suddenly started descending rapidly. At one point the plane went down thousands of feet, causing panic among the passengers. (reuters)
Despite being seriously injured, Captain Smit managed to open the Mosquito cockpit door. After this, the passengers and crew members reached the cockpit and helped control the attacker. Other trained pilots on board later took control and the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. There were 174 people on board the plane. (AP News)
Netanyahu said- the attacker was trying to commit suicide
According to Netanyahu, initial inquiries indicated that the co-pilot was trying to crash the plane and his mental state was such that he wanted to die himself. Netanyahu said that when passengers and crew overpowered him, he allegedly repeatedly “Kill me” Said. (cbs news)
He told that first earphone wires and later plastic cuffs were used to tie the hands of the attacker. However, an independent investigation into these claims and the actual motive behind the attack is still underway.
Israeli investigators also involved in the investigation
Netanyahu said the pilot was being interrogated and Israeli investigators had also joined the process. At the same time, the United Arab Emirates has also started investigating the incident. The objective of the investigation is to investigate the actual cause, motive and any possible terrorist connection or pre-planned conspiracy of the incident. (Al Jazeera)
Flydubai has also said that investigation is ongoing into the circumstances and motive of the incident. Therefore, it would be premature to draw final conclusions regarding the co-pilot's ideology and ultimate motive for the incident before the investigation is completed. (Al Jazeera)
Praise for the bravery of Captain Smit Mosquito
The role of Indian Captain Smit Machar in this entire incident is being widely discussed. Despite being seriously injured, his success in opening the cockpit door allowed passengers and other crew members to reach inside. After this the attacker was controlled and the process of landing the plane safely began. (AP News)
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has praised the bravery of Captain Mosquito and the passengers. The incident has also raised serious questions about the safety of aircraft cockpits, screening of pilots and the role of passengers in an emergency.
The incident increased concerns about aircraft safety
The flydubai incident has also raised questions about how effective the background and security vetting process of airline pilots is. The investigating agencies are now trying to find out what was the real reason behind the incident and whether the attacker had taken this step alone. At present the investigation of the case is going on and the final conclusion will be revealed only after the completion of the investigation. (cbs news)