President Donald Trump hailed the extraordinary Flydubai rescue as “the most amazing story” Wednesday after speaking “at length” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while saying the co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and attempting to crash the Israel-bound jet was “perhaps a terrorist.”
Trump recounted how the badly wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door before Israeli passengers overpowered the co-pilot as the Boeing 737 plunged thousands of feet, with one passenger briefly grabbing the controls before qualified pilots aboard the flight took over.
“It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist, or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot,” Trump said.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman later provided a more detailed account, saying the bloodied captain used “the last moments of his energy” to activate the cockpit-door release while lying wounded on the floor, allowing passengers to rush inside.
Has the UAE violated an agreement with Israel by allowing an Omani national on a plane to Tel Aviv?
Also, how did the copilot carry a knife into the cockpit? The hijack scare on flydubai Flight FZ1073 has raised many questions, with concerns being raised about crew screening and security
The Omani Co-Pilot Was Not Employed in Israel
The co-pilot did not work for an Israeli company. Flydubai employed him in the United Arab Emirates.
Flydubai is based in Dubai. The airline recruits staff from across the world. An official company announcement said its workforce includes people from 144 nationalities. More than 1,500 qualified pilots work for the carrier.
An Omani citizen can therefore work for Flydubai without Oman having relations with every country served by the airline. The bigger issue concerns his assignment to the Israel route.
How Was He Cleared to Fly to Israel?
Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev reportedly demanded the suspension of Flydubai services after the incident. She also requested an investigation into the UAE-Israel aviation agreement.
Hebrew media reports cited by The Times of Israel said the agreement allows only pilots carrying passports from countries with diplomatic relations with Israel to land there.
Israeli authorities are reportedly investigating whether the Omani co-pilot held another passport. Dual citizenship could explain how he received clearance.
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