Friday's Final Word

A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv faced a mid-flight attack when the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane reportedly plunged about 14,000 feet before off-duty airmen and other passengers restrained the attacker and the crew regained control, enabling an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Reports said three Israeli passengers helped subdue the attacker, allowing the crew to seal the cockpit and stabilize the craft. UAE authorities and regional outlets described the incident as an act of terrorism and stressed security protocols on board. UAE adviser Anwar Gargash described the attack as an act of terrorism and praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for helping to open the cockpit and subdue the attacker; Machchhar has received recognition for his courage. Investigations noted that the attacker was an Omani national who had previously been banned by Oman from flying due to concerns about radical ideological views, though it remains unclear whether Oman shared these concerns with others. Aviation-security analysts argued that the incident exposed a significant security lapse, noting that while screening failures can occur, a motivated attacker should have been detected earlier. Authorities are reviewing screening, staffing, and flight-crew procedures to determine a full timeline and motive.