1 hr ago
Flydubai Attack Spurs Calls for Global Pilot-Security Alerts
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers.
During the flight, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and tried to take control of the plane.
Passengers and other people helped stop him.
The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and both pilots went to hospital for treatment.
An aviation expert says countries should share information if a pilot is removed from a job over security concerns.
Reports say the co-pilot had previously been suspended by Oman Air, but Oman has not commented.
The UAE is investigating what happened and why.
Israel is also checking whether anyone directed the co-pilot.
The expert says better checks could help protect flights, while recognizing that sharing personal information raises privacy concerns.
A co-pilot on a Dubai–Tel Aviv Flydubai flight allegedly attacked the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft.
Passengers and others subdued the co-pilot; the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and both pilots were treated in hospital.
Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar urged regulators to share records when pilots are removed over security concerns.
Reports cited in the article say the co-pilot had previously been suspended by Oman Air as a security risk; Oman has not commented.
The UAE is leading the investigation, which it called a terrorist attack, while Israel is examining whether anyone directed the co-pilot.
- Who
- The co-pilot and captain of a Flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers; aviation expert Sanjay Lazar called for stronger information-sharing between regulators.
- What
- The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft; passengers and others subdued him.
- Where
- A Dubai–Tel Aviv flight that landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The incident occurred days before Lazar made his comments; the article does not give the flight date.
- Why
- The co-pilot's motive and any related connections remain under investigation.
Security and information-sharing
Privacy and existing screening
Sharing pilot security records
Security and information-sharing
Lazar argues regulators should share alerts when pilots are removed over suspected radicalisation, so another regulator or airline can account for that history.
Privacy and existing screening
Lazar acknowledges that sharing pilot data raises privacy concerns, though he says aviation security is more important.
Screening foreign pilots on Israel routes
Security and information-sharing
Lazar argues that passenger-and-crew information systems and stronger checks could help identify security risks on sensitive routes.
Privacy and existing screening
Israel's Transport Ministry says it does not conduct intelligence checks on foreign pilots and has no staff abroad.
Key facts
- Airline
- Flydubai
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Passengers
- 174
- Landing location
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Investigation lead
- The UAE is leading the investigation.
- Expert proposal
- Lazar called for regulators to alert one another when pilots are removed over security concerns.
- Earlier employment report
- ABC News, citing officials, reported the co-pilot was suspended by Oman Air as a security risk in 2024; Oman has not commented.
- Flydubai Israel route
- Flydubai has halted all flights on its Israel route.
Quotes
Sanjay Lazar
Aviation expert speaking to NDTV about pilot security and regulatory information sharing.
“The threat now is inside the cockpit now and regulators across the world must start sharing records on pilots to deal with it.”
NDTV
“For every Hammami, there are 10 Smit Machchhars.”
NDTV
Sources
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Flydubai Co-Pilot Studied Aviation Management at UK University
