Flydubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Attacks Captain, Attempts to Seize Control of Flight
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ibrahim Laura
A flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to preliminary findings by authorities in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said the incident was being investigated as an alleged attempt to carry out what investigators described as a “terrorist act.”
According to the UAE’s official news agency, Al Shamsi said the preliminary investigation indicated that the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit while the aircraft was in flight.
The flight was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia following the incident, as efforts were made to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.
A passenger on the flight, Miryam Shira Ohayon, said the aircraft appeared to be “pretty much out of control” during the incident, describing the experience as frightening for passengers on board.
Ohayon alleged that the co-pilot attempted to kill the captain and crash the aircraft. She said passengers intervened after becoming aware of the situation and managed to overpower and restrain the co-pilot.
According to her account, a doctor travelling on the aircraft provided medical assistance after the incident, while other passengers helped attend to the injured pilot.
Ohayon said no other passengers were injured during the incident.
Her mother, Yasmin Abukasis, also recounted her daughter’s account, saying Ohayon believed passengers were going to die during the ordeal.
She said another passenger who entered the cockpit after the incident reportedly saw blood, although details surrounding the injuries and the sequence of events remained subject to the ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred as tensions and security concerns continue to affect air travel involving Israel and the wider Middle East, with airlines and aviation authorities maintaining heightened security measures on some routes.
Authorities in the UAE have not released all details surrounding the identity, motive or alleged actions of the co-pilot beyond the preliminary findings announced by the Attorney General.
The UAE investigation remains ongoing, and officials are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the alleged confrontation inside the cockpit, the actions of the crew and passengers, and the events that resulted in the aircraft being diverted to Saudi Arabia.
The authorities’ description of the incident as an alleged “terrorist act” reflects the preliminary findings of the investigation and does not, at this stage, establish the final legal determination of the co-pilot’s actions.
Further details are expected as investigators continue their inquiry into the incident.
