Fear of New Terror Tactic: Pilots as Suicide Bombers
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Airlines may face a new terror threat of radicalized pilots acting as suicide bombers.
- Former intelligence officials warn of this evolving security concern.
- The incident could lead to a review of cockpit security measures.
- Technological solutions might be implemented to counter this threat.
A recent Flydubai terror incident, which fortunately ended without fatalities, has raised concerns about a new aviation security threat: pilots becoming radicalized and using aircraft as weapons, similar to the 9/11 attacks. Former intelligence officials warn this could represent a new form of suicide bomber and may necessitate a reevaluation of cockpit security measures.
Former IDF intelligence officer Miriam Eizen stated that such an act would not be spontaneous, suggesting the pilot would be motivated by extremist ideology, possibly promising religious rewards. She noted that in past hijackings, including 9/11, the hijackers were not the original pilots. The possibility of a trained pilot being the perpetrator, she believes, constitutes a novel type of suicide attack.
Oded Eilam, formerly with the Mossad, explained that recruiting and convincing a commercial pilot to deliberately crash a plane is more complex than recruiting a young suicide bomber. However, he suggested direct recruitment might not even be necessary. A pilot could become radicalized over time through exposure to anti-Israel propaganda and extremist messages, acting as a "lone wolf" from within the sensitive cockpit environment.
Eilam anticipates that the Flydubai incident will prompt countries and airlines to review post-9/11 security protocols. Since perfectly screening every pilot is impossible, he suggests technological solutions, such as systems that would allow the crew to access the cockpit even if one pilot attempts to seize control.
