Saudi Arabia launches air safety probe into flydubai incident, sources say
BA•Saudi Arabia has notified foreign aviation agencies that it will investigate under international rules last week’s cockpit stabbing aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. The UAE has opened a separate criminal investigation; Israel has offered to join the safety probe but has not been invited.
1. Saudi probe begins
Saudi Arabia has launched an air safety investigation into the September 30 incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was in Saudi airspace when the co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe, three people close to the matter said. The flight, bound for Israel, survived a steep plunge.
2. Separate investigations
The safety investigation will examine aviation safety under international rules, while the UAE has opened a separate criminal investigation that its prosecutor general called a “terrorist attack.” The UAE would also be involved in the safety probe because the jet is registered there and flydubai is based in Dubai.
3. Israel awaits invitation
Israel has offered to take part in the Saudi-led safety investigation but has not been invited, said Ofer Vaknin, head of Israel’s Aircraft Safety Investigation Authority. He said the agency was waiting for notification from Saudi Arabia. Nearly all of the 172 people on board were Israeli citizens.
