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The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flydubai plane on September 30 planned to crash the plane at Tel Aviv International Airport, according to the United Arab Emirates Attorney General.
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The Omani co-pilot was inspired by the Al-Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001 against the United States and aimed to cause “the greatest possible loss of life”, according to the prosecutor’s conclusions published by state media.
“The findings showed that he met the professional and safety requirements for employment, including holding a pilot’s license, providing a certificate of good conduct and completing the required checks.”
Passengers described storming the cockpit and struggling to regain control after the plane suddenly plunged about 5,000 meters.
The plane’s Indian captain was injured when the co-pilot attacked him with an axe, but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. The plane then made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Most of the passengers on board were Israeli.
On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog awarded the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to six Israelis who helped foil the recent Flydubai hijack attempt.
“The civil courage and ingenuity demonstrated by the heroes here cannot overshadow the obligation to get full answers. Everyone, all of us, deserves clear and satisfactory answers,” he said, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and pilot for their courage in thwarting the attack and ordered a “thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel.”
Gn world
