FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Plotted Crash
Investigators are probing alleged plans and warning signs before the FlyDubai attack.
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Updated Oct 5, 12:01pm ETEvery side, every morning
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What happened
Investigators are examining claims that an Omani FlyDubai co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe on flight FZ1073 and tried to take control. Passengers and crew subdued him, and reserve pilots landed the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv plane in Saudi Arabia. The suspect had reportedly been barred from flying by Oman over concerns about extremist views before later joining FlyDubai. That history has raised questions about how he was cleared for an Israel-bound flight. The injured captain said he forced open the cockpit door so passengers could intervene. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security procedures for foreign airline crews. The UAE inquiry continues, with Israel, Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealand involved.
How each side covered it
From the left
Left-leaning outlets framed the story around a narrowly stopped disaster, overseas-background scrutiny, and apparent vetting failures. For The Guardian, the focus was passenger-and-crew intervention, alongside the suspect’s Australian studies and unfinished qualification as investigators examined his overseas background. In The Seattle Times, the thwarted cockpit attack exposed apparent vetting failures after earlier concerns about extremist views.
From the right
Right-leaning outlets cast the case as a planned terrorist attack on Israel and centered the people who stopped it. Fox News led with the alleged plan to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport, stressing premeditation. The Daily Mail focused on the captain, passengers and crew as heroic figures who fought back before catastrophe.
Headlines
Left2
FACT FOCUS: What’s known about the FlyDubai attack probe and the red flags about the suspectCenter8
FACT FOCUS: What's known about the FlyDubai attack probe and the red flags about the suspect
FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into airport, shouldn't have been cleared to fly to Israel, sources say
What We Know About Flydubai Flight Hacker’s Plan To Reportedly Attack Tel Aviv
FlyDubai Hijacking Turns Into Flashpoint in Israeli Election
FlyDubai co-pilot was reportedly flagged before attack. So how was he cleared to fly?
Right7
Accused flydubai hijacker expected to face death penalty after planning to crash jet into Tel Aviv airport: report
Flydubai co-pilot asked captain to pray - then hit him with an axe
Hijacking Terrorist Had An Earlier Plan — And A Chilling Endgame
Co-Pilot Planned to Crash Flydubai Plane Into Airport or US Military Base: Israeli Security Officials
Investigators: FlyDubai Co-Pilot Planned to Crash Jet into Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport; PM Speaks with 'Hero' Captain
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