The individual who previously handled the nuclear football for President Bill Clinton is raising concerns about possible terrorist cells within foreign airlines. This alert comes in light of an incident involving a FlyDubai copilot who allegedly attacked the captain of an Israel-bound flight, putting the aircraft in a perilous nosedive.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, who also served as a pilot for Delta Air Lines, expressed that it might be easier for terrorist cells to operate within overseas airline companies compared to those in the U.S. He believes the Department of Justice needs to investigate this matter thoroughly.
This warning follows an emergency landing of a FlyDubai flight from the UAE to Tel Aviv in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The copilot reportedly assaulted the captain with a crash ax while they were in the air. The flight had 174 passengers and eight crew members onboard, and officials are now looking into potential motives, considering both terrorism and mental health issues. Patterson finds these factors worrisome for public safety, if not national security.
Retired Lt. Col. Patterson regards Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot who was attacked, as a hero for unlocking the cockpit door during the assault. There’s mounting concern about identifying radicalized individuals before they act. Patterson pointed out that most safety protocols depend on self-reporting, which might not reveal potential threats among airline personnel.
Officials have indicated that the crash ax was found behind the copilot’s chair and was the weapon used in the assault. Patterson noted that every Boeing 737, which he has piloted extensively, includes a crash ax in the cockpit. He described the use of such an object in an attack as particularly brutal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the copilot might have been subject to “Islamist radical indoctrination” and mentioned the need for further investigation into any connections with Iran. Patterson, having reached out to the Transportation Secretary with his concerns, underscored that both U.S. and foreign airlines have rigorous background checks. However, he warned that radical changes in a pilot’s behavior might go unnoticed after hiring.
Patterson further explained that pilots often fly with new colleagues each time, which complicates understanding their mental and emotional states. Engaging in initial conversations about backgrounds and personal lives can help, but it’s not foolproof. He raised a potential security concern regarding the crash ax, suggesting that in a confined cockpit, it could be easily accessible to a copilot looking to cause harm.
The incident shows the need for stricter scrutiny not just of domestic airline hiring practices but also regarding foreign airline crews accessing U.S. airspace. Patterson emphasized the importance of understanding who operates aircraft in the U.S. and called for vigilance regarding hires from foreign carriers.
Netanyahu noted that the co-pilot’s Omani nationality represents a gap in security measures, particularly concerning Israeli restrictions on pilots from non-diplomatic countries. He acknowledged that while there have been significant changes in aviation security since 9/11, more efforts are essential to enhance safety on airlines.
Patterson concluded by stating that the unpredictability of individuals flying with you or those traveling on the same aircraft remains a significant concern, and airline security measures vary greatly between companies.
