Al Jazeera is asking how a Flydubai co-pilot was cleared to fly despite having been assessed as a security risk, according to the outlet. The question sits at the centre of reporting on an alleged attempt to seize control of a Flydubai flight.
The flight involved is identified in coverage as Flydubai Flight 1073, which The New York Times notes had four pilots on board. CNN, citing Israeli sources, reports that the co-pilot accused of trying to hijack the plane probably acted alone.
The incident has drawn attention at the highest levels. Channels Television reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited the Indian captain of the Flydubai flight to Israel, describing him as a "true hero."
Al Jazeera has also published a separate piece setting out five questions being raised about the attack. Together, the reports point to scrutiny on two fronts: how the co-pilot passed vetting despite the security assessment, and how the alleged attempt unfolded in a cockpit that carried more pilots than a standard crew.
No full account of the vetting process or the events on board has been provided in the material available, and the reporting leaves the central question — how the clearance was granted — unresolved.
What to watch next: whether aviation and security authorities explain the vetting decision, and whether investigators confirm the assessment that the co-pilot acted alone.
