An attack by a co-pilot with an axe against the captain of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been reported, and investigators believe the co-pilot aimed to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where passengers subdued the attacker, and all 172 passengers and crew survived.
A formal probe into the security situation around foreign civil aviation into Israel has followed the incident, and it has also prompted accusations between Israeli officials over the absence of oversight and vetting of the pilot. The co-pilot is an Omani national, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacker got through a “loophole.”
The Attack on the Cockpit
Mid-flight, the co-pilot, a man making the trip from Dubai to Tel Aviv, attacked the captain using a crash axe, a lightweight emergency tool kept in cockpits for breaking through panels or jamming doors during a crash. During the assault, the pilot managed to open the cockpit door.
The people aboard worked as a team to overcome the person who attacked them, and a pilot who was there by chance helped guide the aircraft down after the assault.
According to Flightradar24 data, the plane dropped more than 14,000 feet — nearly three miles — in under 30 seconds during its descent. The aircraft was carrying 172 people, with most of them being Israeli.
Everyone aboard the aircraft was unharmed and accounted for following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The pilot and the co-pilot remain alive and have since been moved to the UAE for questioning.
Who the Co-Pilot Is
An Omani national serves as the co-pilot, although neither Omani nor Emirati officials have confirmed that information publicly. Authorities in both the UAE and Israel have labeled the attack an attempted terrorist act, with the UAE taking the lead on the main investigation and receiving assistance from Israeli officials.
Netanyahu said on Fox & Friends that Israel checks the background of pilots flying into the country, but the attacker got through a “loophole.” That loophole is now the subject of a formal examination Netanyahu announced late Sunday.
The Pilot’s Background Dispute
The pilot’s credentials have drawn a dispute between officials from Israel’s Ministry of Transportation and security services, each pointing to the other for failing to oversee and vet him properly. Now an examination has been ordered to look at the security situation surrounding foreign civil aviation into Israel.
The disagreement over who should have checked the pilot’s background shows how deeply the issue has divided Israeli officials. Neither side wants responsibility for letting the attack happen.
Israel’s Political Context
Israel is holding national elections to decide if Netanyahu stays prime minister, and they are still weeks away. The attack occurred during a war in Gaza that began with the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7, 2023.
That timing matters for Netanyahu’s position. Any weakness on security can be seized upon by his opponents as proof he is unfit to lead the country through conflict.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs keeping the channels open for diplomacy and compromise and is against foreign entanglements that risk closing them down. The attack on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv raises questions about aviation security that must be answered, but the response should not become another front in the region’s wider disputes.
The investigation into the co-pilot’s background is necessary, but it should be conducted without rushing toward conclusions that close off trade and travel. The UAE has taken the lead on the main investigation and received assistance from Israeli officials — that cooperation is worth preserving.
The paper would want the investigation to proceed openly, with full disclosure of findings rather than accusations traded between ministries. It would want the review of foreign aviation security to focus on practical improvements rather than assigning blame to one side or another.
Key Facts Box
- Attack: Co-pilot attacked captain with a crash axe mid-flight
- Intent: Attempt to crash plane into Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
- Plane: FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Passengers/Crew: 172 people, most Israeli
- Emergency landing: Saudi Arabia
- Descent: More than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds, per Flightradar24 data
- Survivors: All passengers and crew accounted for
- Co-pilot: Omani national
- Investigation: Led by the UAE with Israeli officials’ help
- Examination: Formal examination into foreign aviation security announced by Netanyahu
The Security Review
Late Sunday, Netanyahu announced a formal examination into the security situation around foreign civil aviation into Israel, following the attack. The review was announced to address concerns raised by the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Fox & Friends that Israel checks the background of pilots flying into the country, but the attacker got through a “loophole.” That loophole is now the subject of the formal examination.
Source material: “FlyDubai attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, ongoing investigation finds,” NPR.
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