FlyDubai attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, ongoing investigation finds
TEL AVIV, Israel –
asserted
investigation → intend → airport
An ongoing investigation into last week's midair attack on a FlyDubai plane has found that the co-pilot who tried to take control of the flight intended to crash it into Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly told NPR.
asserted
person → find → NPR
The plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv and was intending to land at Ben Gurion midmorning on a busy weekday.
asserted
plane → fly → weekday
The co-pilot attacked the plane's captain midflight with an axe and attempted to take control of the plane.
asserted
pilot → attack → plane
It is believed that the co-pilot likely acted alone, the source said.
asserted
source → believe → ?
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates — which is leading the main investigation into the incident, with help from Israeli officials — and in Israel have deemed the attack an attempted terrorist attack, although the motive is still being investigated.
asserted
motive → lead → Israel
The commercial flight had 172 people on board, according to the airline, the majority of whom were Israeli.
uncertain
majority → have → whom
All passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
asserted
plane → account → Arabia
They were flown to Tel Aviv late Wednesday.
asserted
They → fly → Aviv
Investigators said that the co-pilot carried out the attack with what's called a crash axe — a lightweight emergency tool stored in the cockpit to break through panels or jammed doors in the event of a crash.
asserted
what → say → crash
The aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said data shows at one point the plane descended more than 14,000 feet, or nearly three miles, in under 30 seconds — way faster than normal.
asserted
plane → say → seconds
The pilot was able to open the cockpit door during the attack, and passengers rushed in and subdued the attacker, while another pilot who happened to be on board helped land the plane, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke to the injured pilot as he was recovering in the hospital.
uncertain
he → open → hospital
Both the pilot and the co-pilot are alive and have been transferred to the UAE for questioning.
asserted
pilot → transfer → questioning
The co-pilot is from Oman, according to Israeli officials.
uncertain
pilot → accord → officials
Omani and Emirati officials have not confirmed that publicly.
asserted
officials → confirm → that
The detail of his nationality is raising questions in Israel about how he was allowed to fly a plane heading to Ben Gurion, as Israel does not allow pilots from countries it doesn't have diplomatic relations with to fly in its airspace.
asserted
it → raise → airspace
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Fox & Friends that Israel checks the background of pilots flying routes into the country, and that the attacker must have gotten through a "loophole."
asserted
attacker → say → loophole
Officials from Israel's Ministry of Transportation and security services have traded accusations over the lack of oversight and vetting of the pilot.
asserted
Officials → trade → pilot
Meanwhile, several of Netanyahu's political opponents have said the security breach is a failure on the prime minister's part and have called for a larger investigation.
asserted
breach → say → investigation
Netanyahu announced late Sunday that there will be a formal examination into the security situation around "foreign civil aviation into Israel," but did not provide further details.
asserted
Netanyahu → announce → details
A politically tense time in Israel
National elections in Israel — which will determine whether or not Netanyahu will remain prime minister — are just weeks away.
asserted
Netanyahu → determine → Israel
It's the first such national election since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza.
asserted
which → lead → Gaza
Polls in Israel show that the race is tight, and analysts say the FlyDubai attack would likely not change Israelis' attitudes on how they will vote.
asserted
they → show → attitudes
Netanyahu has been campaigning largely on the idea that he alone can protect Israelis from the external threats that Israel faces, while his opponents have pointed to what they see as major security failures under his leadership — including the Oct. 7 attack.
asserted
they → campaign → attack
The Aporia
