A co-pilot’s attack on his captain during a flight to Israel has brought airline safety measures back into focus. The incident, which saw the attacker stab his colleague and attempt to crash the plane, raises questions about how carriers screen their crew members.
The flydubai Boeing 737 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot launched his attack over northwestern Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials said the assault happened as the aircraft neared Israeli airspace.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said in a video message: “During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board.”
Authorities have not revealed what weapon the attacker used, though some reports suggest it may have been the cockpit’s emergency crash axe – a small axe kept in every aircraft for emergencies.
The captain and passengers managed to overpower the attacker. The plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. The captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, went to hospital and is now out of danger.
The UAE has opened an investigation into possible terrorist links. Netanyahu said the crew and passengers had stopped “another 9/11-style crash”.
Security checks for flight crew
Airlines put pilots through the same security checks as passengers. Crew members cannot bypass these measures to enter the aircraft.
At large airports, pilots often use dedicated security lanes rather than mixing with passengers. At smaller airports, they pass through the same checkpoints as everyone else.
These checks aim to spot any unusual behaviour, such as a pilot who appears nervous or drunk. Security staff X-ray all carry-on bags heading to the cabin. Pilots also walk through metal detectors.
Israel has been a high-risk destination since hijackings and attacks in the 1970s. This history means airports serving Israeli routes maintain higher security levels. Dubai’s airport handles these protocols regularly given its size and profile.
WATCH THE FLYDUBAI DRAMA UNFOLD HERE
Cockpit protection measures
Airlines strengthened cockpit access after the September 11 attacks in the United States. Hijackers took control of flight decks and crashed the planes into buildings.
Pilots can now lock reinforced cockpit doors when they face a threat. However, this incident shows the challenge when the danger comes from inside the cockpit itself – an extremely rare situation.
Early reports suggest the captain kept control of cockpit access and warned his colleagues. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, called him a hero.
Screening pilots for mental health risks
Airlines face a difficult task in identifying crew members who might pose a threat, especially when warning signs are not obvious.
The 2015 Germanwings crash in the French Alps remains the most notable case of a pilot deliberately crashing an aircraft. Investigators found that the pilot, a German man (27), had depression and suicidal thoughts that his employer did not know about. The crash killed 150 people.
That disaster made airlines worldwide more aware of the need to monitor crew mental health closely. However, carriers share little information about their screening programmes, citing confidentiality and other reasons.
Many questions remain about the flydubai case. Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday that the co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, though he gave no details.
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