Explainer-What do we know about flydubai flight 1073?
asserted
we → know → flight
LONDON, Oct 2 - Here is what we know, and don't know, about the reported attempt by the copilot of flydubai flight 1073 to crash the plane on September 30 before it landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
asserted
it → know → Arabia
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANE?
asserted
WHAT → happen → PLANE
The flight, carrying more than 170 mostly Israeli passengers and crew, departed Dubai at 0305 GMT, according to flight data reviewed by Reuters.
uncertain
flight → carry → Reuters
At 0521 GMT in Saudi airspace it made a sudden, sharp turn and plunged towards the ground twice, before stabilising.
asserted
it → make → ground
The plane fell more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds during its most dramatic dive.
asserted
plane → fall → dive
It then put out distress signals indicating an emergency and unlawful interference.
asserted
It → put → emergency
It changed course over Jordanian airspace and diverted to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
asserted
It → change → Tabuk
At one point the transponder was turned off for nearly half an hour, according to an Israeli official.
uncertain
transponder → turn → official
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COCKPIT?
asserted
WHAT → happen → COCKPIT
The copilot attacked and wounded the captain during the flight, the captain, Israeli and Saudi officials say.
asserted
officials → attack → flight
During one of the plane's plunges, the wounded captain who was lying on the floor managed to open the door, he said, allowing passengers to enter the cockpit and overpower the copilot.
asserted
passengers → wound → copilot
Israeli officials cite witnesses saying that the copilot was "bashing" the control panel, without elaborating.
asserted
copilot → cite → panel
They say the copilot appeared to be trying to crash the plane.
asserted
copilot → say → plane
One of the passengers managed to steady the plane after the copilot was subdued, which he knew how to do after watching an air-crash TV show, according to his own account.
uncertain
he → manage → account
A second pair of off-duty pilots on board then took the controls and landed, according to witnesses and Israeli officials.
Both the copilot and the captain suffered injuries, Saudi officials said.
uncertain
officials → take → injuries
Videos from inside the cabin verified by Reuters show a wounded captain and copilot and blood apparently smeared on walls, and the copilot restrained by the passengers.
asserted
copilot → verify → passengers
We don't know the exact timings of events on board, how the copilot overpowered the captain or what weapon he used.
asserted
he → know → weapon
One passenger is heard in a video asking about a knife, and another talking about a stabbing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised the possibility that a crash axe kept on board was used.
HOW CLOSE DID THE PLANE COME TO CRASHING?
asserted
PLANE → hear → board
At its steepest point, the plane was losing altitude at about 544 feet (166 metres) per second.
asserted
plane → lose → second
Similar trajectories have resulted in several major crashes.
asserted
trajectories → result → crashes
WHAT ROLE DID PASSENGERS PLAY?
asserted
PASSENGERS → play → ROLE
One woman noticed a commotion in the cockpit when the captain opened the door and alerted the rest of the plane.
asserted
captain → notice → plane
At least four passengers rushed towards the cockpit, attacking and restraining the copilot.
asserted
passengers → rush → copilot
The passenger who then steadied the plane before the off-duty pilots could take over said he first pulled the copilot away from the controls with the help of the other passengers.
uncertain
he → steady → passengers
Two other passengers attacked the copilot and tied him up using earphone cables, one of them said.
asserted
one → attack → them
A doctor on board treated the wounded captain.
asserted
doctor → treat → captain
The two off-duty flydubai pilots were likely on board as backup for tired crew, a pilot interviewed by Reuters said.
asserted
pilot → interview → Reuters
Middle East flights are often having to reroute because of the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, the pilot said.
asserted
pilot → have → Iran
Flydubai said on Friday a full investigation was underway.
asserted
investigation → say → Friday
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE COPILOT?
asserted
WE → know → COPILOT
Israeli officials say the copilot is an Omani national and that he was trying to crash the plane.
Little else is known about his motives or identity.
asserted
Little → say → motives
Omani authorities have not commented and there has been no comment from him or a representative.
asserted
authorities → comment → him
After being treated for his injuries he was taken to Abu Dhabi, according to the Saudi interior ministry.
uncertain
he → treat → ministry
Netanyahu told Fox News that the copilot had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination", without providing details, and that he was suicidal.
asserted
he → tell → details
Israeli security officials have said he was likely acting alone, though investigation is ongoing.
asserted
investigation → say → ?
Israel's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates has said no motive has been determined.
asserted
motive → say → Emirates
WAS IRAN OR ANOTHER COUNTRY INVOLVED?
asserted
IRAN → be → ?
Israeli security officials say Israel had not identified any Iranian involvement so far.
asserted
Israel → say → involvement
Iran has not commented.
asserted
Iran → comment → ?
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
