What to know about investigations into Flydubai hijacking
A Flydubai flight carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the copilot stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
TL;DR
- A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, due to an in-flight incident.
- The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
- Passengers and crew members restrained the co-pilot after the captain managed to open the cockpit door.
- The injured captain and co-pilot were hospitalized; the captain is in stable condition.
- Investigations are being conducted by Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE to determine the motive and method of weapon acquisition.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the co-pilot may have undergone Islamist radicalization and intended a suicide attack.
- The origin of the weapon used in the attack is a key focus of the investigation, with possibilities including the suspect bringing it aboard or using an emergency crash axe.
- The incident highlights potential security lapses in cockpit access and screening procedures.