FlyDubai pilot stabs fellow pilot, attempts to crash plane, Netanyahu says
Israeli authorities are investigating a cockpit altercation aboard an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight after the jet plunged thousands of feet and diverted to Saudi Arabia.
FlyDubai passenger recalls 'massive drop' before travelers, crew rushed cockpit
A passenger aboard the FlyDubai flight described a sudden "massive drop" as the aircraft approached the Jordanian border, followed by a rush of passengers and crew toward the front of the plane as the emergency unfolded.
"The flight from Dubai was a very calm one for the first two hours," the passenger told Reuters. "And when we were at the Jordanian border, suddenly the aircraft dropped, like a massive drop, like a massive turbulence for 20-30 seconds."
The aircraft briefly stabilized before dropping again for about 10 seconds, according to the passenger.
"And then we saw that in the front of the aircraft there was a riot. Many people rushed over there," he said.
The passenger said he understood that one pilot had stabbed another and that a crew member and passengers managed to gain control of the situation. He said another pilot who was traveling aboard the aircraft then took control and flew the plane south to Saudi Arabia.
The passenger also praised the reception they received after landing in Saudi Arabia, saying authorities provided medical assistance, food and other support.
"They were very welcoming," he said, adding that passengers remained calm despite the ordeal.
"And now we are on the way back to Tel Aviv, safe and sound," he said.
Co-pilot, an Omani national, is under arrest, Israeli official tells Reuters
The co-pilot accused of trying to crash an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight after stabbing the pilot is an Omani national and was arrested after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia, Israeli officials told Reuters.
An Israeli official identified the co-pilot as an Omani national, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect was arrested after the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu said Saudi authorities were questioning the co-pilot following what he described as a "highly severe security incident."
The FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was carrying more than 170 Israelis when the cockpit altercation occurred, according to Reuters.
FlyDubai has said the underlying reasons behind the incident remain unknown and subject to a formal investigation, urging against "premature speculation" while authorities gather the facts.
Injured pilot clicked cockpit door release, Israeli spokesperson tells Reuters
The injured pilot aboard the FlyDubai flight clicked the release to open the cockpit door while lying bloodied on the floor during the midair emergency, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters.
The action allowed others to gain access to the cockpit as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, according to the Israeli account.
The spokesperson told the outlet that the wounded pilot was "covered with blood and lying on the floor" when he activated the cockpit door release.
Passengers and a crew member then entered the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot, according to Israeli officials. A second set of pilots who were aboard the aircraft and scheduled to replace the original flight crew took control and ultimately landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to the report.
FlyDubai passengers arrive safely in Tel Aviv to cheers, chants
Passengers from the FlyDubai flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia arrived safely at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, where they were greeted with cheers and chants as they entered the airport.
The passengers returned to Israel after their original flight, FZ1073, diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an altercation in the cockpit.
Israeli President Herzog calls FlyDubai incident 'terror attack,' thanks UAE for fighting terrorism
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday described the incident aboard the Israel-bound FlyDubai flight as a "terror attack" and thanked the United Arab Emirates for its partnership in combating terrorism.
"We had a very challenging few hours with a very frightening and worrying terror attack on a plane," Herzog said during a visit to the headquarters of the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division.
"Thank God that everybody is being rescued, and I want to thank the heroes on the plane," Herzog said. "I am hopeful that the Israelis who are flying from Saudi Arabia will reach home soon."
Herzog also thanked Israel's regional partners and singled out the UAE, where the flight originated.
"The United Arab Emirates is fighting terror with us and with other nations in the region," Herzog said. "We must not allow terror to destabilize the region, and we must prevent all efforts to undermine the stability and peace in the region."
FlyDubai passengers to arrive soon at Tel Aviv airport
Passengers from the FlyDubai flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia are expected to arrive soon at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service, said its teams, along with medical clinic personnel at the airport, are on standby with mobile intensive care units and ambulances to meet the passengers arriving from Saudi Arabia.
Paramedics will assess the passengers upon arrival and provide medical treatment if necessary, according to an MDA spokesperson.
FlyDubai earlier said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk, where Flight FZ1073 diverted following the cockpit altercation, to transport passengers and relieve crew members.
FlyDubai jet exceeded max operating speed by 'at least 100 knots' during plunge: former Navy pilot
The FlyDubai aircraft that plunged thousands of feet during a cockpit altercation Wednesday appeared to exceed its maximum operating speed by "at least 100 knots," according to retired Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot Matthew Buckley.
Buckley, appearing on Fox News' "America's Newsroom," highlighted the extreme speed and rapid loss of altitude as he analyzed what happened aboard the Israel-bound flight.
"This airliner went from about 35,000, 34,000 feet down to — they lost about 20,000 feet in altitude in 30 seconds to a minute," Buckley said.
"They exceeded the max operating speed of this aircraft by at least 100 knots," he added.
Buckley also pointed to images of the aircraft that he said showed damage to its tail, saying, "They ripped the rudder off this tail."
The retired fighter pilot said the timeline suggested the aircraft's hijacking transponder code may not have been entered until after the initial emergency had already unfolded.
"I don't think, based on the timeline, that the squawk, the hijack squawk, was entered until after things had already happened," Buckley said.
FlyDubai confirms cockpit altercation, says motive remains unknown
FlyDubai confirmed Wednesday that an altercation occurred on the flight deck of its Israel-bound flight before the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia, while cautioning that the reasons and motives behind the incident remain unknown.
"An altercation occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ 1073, operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), on 30 September," a FlyDubai spokesperson said in an updated statement.
The airline said on-duty FlyDubai crew members who were traveling aboard the flight successfully secured the aircraft before diverting and landing safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
All passengers and crew members were "safe and accounted for," according to the carrier.
FlyDubai said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew and that the incident had not affected other scheduled operations across its network.
The airline did not address Israeli officials' assertions about an attempted attack, saying the circumstances remained under investigation.
"At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation," the spokesperson said. "We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts."
FlyDubai said its immediate priority was the safety, health and well-being of the passengers and crew involved and supporting the official investigation.
Netanyahu says FlyDubai pilot stabbed fellow pilot, 'apparently tried to crash' plane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that a pilot aboard the Israel-bound FlyDubai flight stabbed another pilot and "apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board," praising passengers and crew members who he said intervened and prevented disaster.
Netanyahu said nearly all the passengers aboard the flight from Dubai to Israel were Israeli and described the episode as an "extremely serious security incident."
The prime minister said he spoke with an Israeli passenger who told him the aircraft went into a spin and began diving before the passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit.
Netanyahu said the two subdued the pilot accused of carrying out the stabbing as he was allegedly attempting to sabotage the aircraft's systems. Additional aircrew members who were aboard then entered the cockpit and stabilized the plane, according to Netanyahu.
"I salute these heroes, who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage," Netanyahu said. "They saved many lives. They prevented a terrible disaster."
The aircraft ultimately landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu said all passengers were out of danger and that the pilot accused of carrying out the stabbing had been detained and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Netanyahu added that Israel remained in contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the passengers' safety and return home.
The prime minister said he had also instructed Israeli security services to prepare for "further potential threats," with officials continuing to hold security assessments as the investigation unfolds.
FlyDubai incident was 'attempted jihadist terrorist attack,' Israeli defense minister says
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the incident aboard an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight was an "attempted jihadist terrorist attack," saying preliminary information indicated the alleged attacker intended to crash the aircraft with everyone aboard.
"The serious incident aboard the Flydubai aircraft was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack," Katz said in a statement, adding that it was thwarted through the "bravery of several Israeli passengers" who entered the cockpit, overpowered the alleged attacker and helped restore control of the aircraft to another flight crew aboard the plane.
"According to the preliminary information available to us, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the aircraft with everyone on board," Katz said.
The FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged thousands of feet before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft landed safely, and its captain and first officer were hospitalized with injuries.
FlyDubai has confirmed that Flight FZ1073 experienced an incident and landed safely but has not publicly confirmed Israel's account of an attempted terrorist attack or the circumstances of the cockpit confrontation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately said Wednesday that one pilot stabbed another and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft.
Flydubai passenger says co-pilot stabbed captain before terrifying plunge, emergency landing
A Flydubai passenger said the co-pilot apparently stabbed the captain during a cockpit altercation before the Israel-bound jet plunged thousands of feet, triggering a terrifying scene aboard the aircraft and an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia Wednesday.
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 plane. The officials said Israel's current assessment was that the incident may have been an attempted "terror attack." The Jerusalem Post separately reported that the growing assessment among Israel's security establishment, including the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet, was that the incident was intended as an act of terror.
The passenger told Fox News that accounts of what happened remained conflicting, but said passengers understood that the co-pilot had stabbed the captain and then collapsed onto the controls.
"There are many different accounts, but apparently the co-pilot stabbed the captain and collapsed onto the controls, shutting down the entire instrument panel. We began plunging downward for several minutes. Everyone on the plane was screaming, the overhead compartments opened, and the power went out. We were sure we were going to die. It was very scary," the passenger said.
Flydubai has not publicly confirmed the reported stabbing or the circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation. Saudi Arabia's Tabuk airport said both pilots were hospitalized after suffering injuries, according to Reuters. An investigation into the incident remains underway.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz.
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