Saudi Arabia launches investigation into flydubai flight incident — Cyprus Mail
Saudi Arabia has launched an aviation safety investigation following an incident on flydubai flight FZ1073 bound for Israel. The aircraft was in the kingdom’s airspace on September 30 when, according to the publication’s sources, the co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe. Cyprus Mail reports that a technical investigation has been launched.
A separate criminal investigation
Safety investigations are usually conducted after aviation accidents to formulate recommendations for improving safety rather than to establish blame. However, such procedures are not mandatory in cases of deliberate actions. A separate criminal investigation has already been opened in the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE attorney general described the incident as a “terrorist attack.”
According to Cyprus Mail’s sources, Saudi Arabia informed relevant foreign aviation authorities that it would conduct a review under international rules. It is currently unknown whether Saudi investigators will publish their findings. Saudi Arabia’s National Transportation Safety Center, the country’s government, and the regulator did not provide comments.
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Participation of the United States and the UAE
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that it had appointed its representative to the investigation. The American side is participating because the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was manufactured in the United States. Under Annex 13 rules, the UAE is also automatically involved in the technical review: the aircraft is registered in the Emirates and the airline is based in Dubai.
Almost all 172 people on board were Israeli citizens. Israel offered to take part in the investigation but has not yet received an invitation. Ofer Vaknin, head of Israel’s aviation incident investigation authority, told Reuters that Israel’s participation may not be mandatory, as the case does not concern an operational or safety issue involving the aircraft.
