Key facts
- A flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency axe on a flight to Tel Aviv.
- UAE prosecutors are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack.
- The plane landed safely due to the actions of the injured captain and passengers.
- The co-pilot allegedly planned the attack before joining the airline.
- The incident has led to renewed scrutiny of onboard security and pilot screening.
A flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency axe on a flight bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai, an incident UAE prosecutors are investigating as a terrorist attack. The plane plunged 16,000 feet in 30 seconds before passengers and a stand-by crew regained control, allowing it to land safely.
The co-pilot is currently being questioned, with Israeli officials stating he had planned the attack before joining the airline. This event has once again brought onboard security and pilot-screening procedures under scrutiny, echoing concerns raised by previous incidents.
Since the 9/11 attacks in 2001, aviation safety rules have undergone significant changes. Al Qaeda hijackers took over four US passenger jets, leading to enhanced airport screening, the expansion of the federal air marshal program, and the mandatory installation of reinforced cockpit doors by April 2003, a requirement later adopted globally by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In 2001, Richard Reid, the 'shoe bomber,' attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on an American Airlines flight. This led to a US rule requiring passengers to remove their shoes at security screenings starting in 2006, though this mandate was lifted in 2025.
The 2015 Germanwings crash, where co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew an Airbus A320 into the French Alps after locking out the captain, killing 150 people, prompted the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to issue a temporary recommendation for two people to remain in the cockpit at all times. While this was later softened, mental health rules for pilots were tightened with mandatory psychological assessments.