The former military aide who once carried the nuclear codes for President Bill Clinton has raised concerns about potential terror cells within foreign airlines. This follows an alleged attack by a FlyDubai copilot on an Israel-bound flight. The incident saw the aircraft enter a dangerous dive, risking passengers and crew.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, previously a Delta Air Lines pilot, expressed his worries to Fox News Digital. He suggested the Department of Justice should investigate the possibility of terror cells infiltrating overseas airline companies. The DOJ should prioritize this concern.
The incident occurred when a FlyDubai flight, en route from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, had to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. This was after the copilot allegedly attacked the captain with a crash ax. The flight was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members. Investigators are considering terrorism and mental health issues as possible motives.
“If someone is radicalized and does not disclose it, the company might never know,” Patterson noted. He pointed out that the industry’s reliance on self-reporting is a significant issue.
Reports indicate that the crash ax, typically located behind the copilot’s seat in a Boeing 737 cockpit, was used in the attack. Patterson highlighted that such tools are standard and meant for emergencies where breaking into doors or windows is necessary.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared that initial investigations suggested the copilot might have undergone Islamic radical indoctrination. Yet, further inquiries are needed to ascertain connections to Iran.
Patterson stressed the importance of reviewing the recruitment process for airline personnel. He warned that current practices might be too permissive, allowing unsuitable candidates into the industry.
Pilots often fly with colleagues they barely know, making it hard to detect changes in personality or radicalization. The random pairing of flight crews leads to frequent new introductions in the cockpit, complicating background familiarity.
Another security concern is the accessibility of the crash ax in the cockpit. Patterson warned that crew movements within the confined space could allow misuse of the tool.
He emphasized the need for the U.S. to scrutinize not only domestic airlines but also foreign crews operating in American airspace. This includes evaluating who is authorized to pilot aircraft within and into the country.
Netanyahu pointed out that the FlyDubai copilot involved in the attack was an Omani national, highlighting a potential loophole in Israel’s security regulations.
Patterson concluded that while aviation security has evolved since 9/11, there remains a need for ongoing security improvements.
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