UAE says Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe in attempted terrorist attack
publishers 79articles 128first reported 1 Oct, 10:06 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 18 editionstop 25 #11
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to seize the aircraft’s controls in an attempted “terrorist act,” the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said Saturday.
Flight FZ1073, carrying more than 170 people, plunged roughly 17,000 feet during Wednesday’s attack. Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, while two reserve pilots took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was injured and later transferred to Abu Dhabi; the Indian Embassy said he was recovering well.
The crash axe, an emergency tool normally stored in the cockpit, had initially been mistaken by some witnesses for a knife. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot and later transferred him to the UAE.
Several news organizations have identified the suspect as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, but Emirati authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman had previously barred him from flying because of concerns about extremist views. UAE investigators are examining the attack’s motive, possible connections and physical and digital evidence, Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said.
Flydubai suspended its Dubai-Tel Aviv service after the incident. El Al also canceled scheduled repatriation flights Saturday after the UAE withdrew approval, according to The Times of Israel.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 52 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 79
- Source articles
- 128
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 52 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: The only listed issue is not material, so the story can publish as written. - "landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia": The sources specify the emergency landing was at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, so saying only 'in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia' is acceptable and not material; no issue.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
UAE says Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe in attempted terrorist attack
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to seize the aircraft’s controls in an attempted “terrorist act,” the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said Saturday. Flight FZ1073, carrying more than 170 people, plunged roughly 17,000 feet during Wednesday’s attack. Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, while two reserve pilots took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was injured and later transferred to Abu Dhabi; the Indian Embassy said he was recovering well. The crash axe, an emergency tool normally stored in the cockpit, had initially been mistaken by some witnesses for a knife. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot and later transferred him to the UAE. Several news organizations have identified the suspect as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, but Emirati authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman had previously barred him from flying because of concerns about extremist views. UAE investigators are examining the attack’s motive, possible connections and physical and digital evidence, Prosecutor General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said. Flydubai suspended its Dubai-Tel Aviv service after the incident. El Al also canceled scheduled repatriation flights Saturday after the UAE withdrew approval, according to The Times of Israel.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →