What happened
A recent incident involving a Flydubai flight has raised concerns about a potential new terror tactic. A hijacking attempt on flight FZ1073 was narrowly averted, sparking worries that the Iranian regime may be exploring new ways to inflict terror globally.
According to Miri Eisin, a former Israel Defense Forces colonel and intelligence officer, a radicalized pilot could be a sign of things to come. Eisin noted that using a pilot for such a scheme guarantees access to the cockpit, which hijackers previously had to take by force.
Eisin believes that the official investigation may reveal Iran's involvement in the Flydubai attempt, suggesting that it could be the work of Hezbollah or the IRGC Quds Force. She emphasized that people from all walks of life can be radicalized, citing examples of individuals with unexpected backgrounds who have been involved in extremist activities.
Oded Ailam, a former deputy head of global operations for Mossad, also commented on the incident, suggesting that recruiting and convincing a pilot to carry out a 9/11-style attack is a sophisticated and long-term operation. Ailam noted that it is more likely to see lone wolf-style attacks from pilots who have been radicalized by those around them.
Ailam proposed a technological solution to prevent similar incidents in the future, such as a system that would allow crew members to access the cockpit in emergency situations. An Israeli television report found that pilots from Iran, Syria, and Iraq have flown foreign airliners into and out of Israel in recent years, often holding dual citizenship.
