How Flydubai Pilot Allegedly Tried To Cr∆sh Tel Aviv-Bound Plane, K!ll 180 Israelis — Minister
How Flydubai Pilot Allegedly Tried To Crash Tel Aviv-Bound Plane, Kill 180 Israelis — Minister
The flydubai flight, carrying about 180 Israelis, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the pilots reportedly fought inside the cockpit, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The emergency landing of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday followed an alleged attempt by one of the pilots to crash the aircraft and kill Israeli passengers, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said.
The flydubai flight, carrying about 180 Israelis, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the pilots reportedly fought inside the cockpit, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft.
The officials, who spoke anonymously, said Israel’s initial assessment was that the incident was an attempted “terror attack” and was not linked to a mental health issue involving either pilot.
Ben Gvir described the incident as the work of a “terrorist” who planned to crash the plane and kill the passengers.
The aircraft landed in Tabuk at 9:45am local time, with both pilots sustaining injuries and being taken to hospital, according to the airport operator.
Flydubai said flight FZ1073 “experienced an incident while en route” but did not provide further details.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking, describing it as a “different incident”.
The incident prompted security consultations in Israel, while Netanyahu cleared his schedule to manage the crisis.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said the situation was under control and that arrangements were being made to return the passengers to Israel.
At Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, relatives gathered to await the passengers.
A passenger’s mother, Yasmin Abukasis, told AFP that her daughter said one pilot had attacked the other with a knife, while passengers heard shouting from the cockpit.
She said another passenger entered the cockpit and saw blood before calling for help, after which passengers intervened.
Israeli media reported that passengers helped separate the pilots during the altercation.
Channel 12 also reported that authorities were investigating whether one pilot had attempted to crash the aircraft, with the other pilot intervening.
Flight-tracking data cited by the report showed the aircraft suddenly lost altitude, dropping from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in less than a minute.
