Flydubai Co-pilot Attacked Captain With Axe, UAE Official Confirms
A Flydubai flight en route to a European destination from Dubai was forced to divert following an incident where the co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain with an axe, a United Arab Emirates aviation official has stated.
The aircraft, carrying 190 passengers, experienced an uncontrolled descent of over 17,000 feet approximately two and a half hours into its journey. Reports indicate that passengers and cabin crew ultimately intervened to overpower the co-pilot.
Further details from the official suggest that the incident was not linked to any external security threat or terrorism, but rather an internal dispute onboard the flight. The plane subsequently landed safely at a diversion airport, and the co-pilot was taken into custody by local authorities.
Flydubai has acknowledged an incident on one of its flights, confirming that the aircraft diverted and all passengers disembarked safely. The airline declined to elaborate on the nature of the event, stating that a full investigation is underway. This incident raises serious questions about internal crew vetting and safety protocols within regional carriers, particularly those operating out of states with close Western military and economic ties, whose aviation sectors are often subject to less public scrutiny.
