Flydubai pilot attacked with an axe, why was this kept in the plane?

New Delhi: After the attack on Indian captain Smit Machchhar on a flight to Israel on a flydubai flight, the biggest question is how did the weapon get inside the cockpit. After this attack, the plane started falling dangerously and it had to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Initially, it was said that the Oman co-pilot attacked the Indian pilot with a knife, but now a new thing has come to light in the investigation. It is learnt that the co-pilot did not go into the cockpit with a knife or weapon from outside.

According to the CBS News report, the attacker may have used a 'crash X' or 'fire X' kept in the cockpit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also confirmed that the crash axe, which is an emergency axe kept in the plane, was used in the attack.

Chaos on the flight, passengers heard screaming

Data from Flightradar24 shows that there was chaos on the plane about two and a half hours after taking off from Dubai. The flight went straight down from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in just one minute. The plane then circled near the Jordanian border and landed in the city of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia about an hour later.

An eyewitness said that while all this was happening, the screams of passengers were heard in the background during the conversation with the air traffic control. The pilot's voice was trembling and he gave a mayday call saying that the plane was being hijacked. Saudi Arabia and Jordan had sent the plane back, after which it landed in Tabuk.

Why was the axe kept in the cockpit?

Under international aviation rules, it is mandatory to have a crash X in every commercial aircraft. It is provided by installing it from the factory itself. For several decades, it has been kept in aircraft as an emergency device so that it can be used after an accident. Earlier this axe was in the main cabin, but after the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001, it was shifted to the cockpit, so that it was within the reach of the pilots.

At present, the identity of the Oman co-pilot and the reason behind the attack have not been revealed. Netanyahu has said that the accused has been arrested. Saudi and UAE officials have said the investigation is ongoing, but did not provide further details. At the same time, Flydubai has stopped all flights to Israel until the investigation is completed.