Saudi Arabia has begun an aviation safety investigation into last week’s cockpit stabbing and alleged attempt to crash a flydubai aircraft , while a separate criminal probe is being conducted by the United Arab Emirates , according to a new report.
Saudi launches probe into flydubai incident
Saudi Arabia has informed aviation authorities in other countries that it plans to conduct a safety investigation into flight FZ1073 in accordance with international aviation rules, news agency Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the matter. The flydubai co-pilot is in custody in the UAE after attacking the flight’s captain, Smit Machchhar , with an axe and allegedly trying to seize control of the Israel-bound aircraft. The aircraft was flying through Saudi airspace when the co-pilot attacked Machchhar with an axe. Such safety investigations are routinely carried out after aviation accidents, but they are not mandatory when an incident is believed to have been deliberate.
The US national transportation safety board, which is expected to have a key role since the Boeing 737 MAX involved in the incident was manufactured in the US, confirmed that it had appointed a representative to the investigation. Under international aviation rules known as Annex 13, the UAE would also automatically participate in the safety investigation, since the aircraft is registered in the country and the airline is based in Dubai.
One source told the news agency it was still uncertain whether Saudi authorities would make the findings of their investigation public. The UAE has separately launched a criminal investigation into the incident, which its prosecutor general has described as a “terrorist attack”.
