Pilot may have sought to crash Israel-bound flight after stabbing other pilot, Netanyahu says

The Flydubai flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a struggle in the cockpit in what the Israeli PM called “a most serious security incident.” Here’s the latest • Hijacking attempt: A pilot on the Israel-bound Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia stabbed the other pilot and appears to have tried to crash the plane, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. He said passengers and crew subdued the assailant, who has been arrested. • Passenger’s fear: The incident caused the aircraft, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, to plummet 17,400 feet in less than two minutes, flight tracking data shows.

One passenger told Israeli media there were moments she believed she was going to die. • Repatriation flight: Most of the stranded passengers are now boarding a replacement Flydubai plane to return home, relatives said. Saudi Arabia earlier rejected an Israeli request to send a military or civilian plane to bring passengers home.

Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi ArabiaFlight FZ 1073 was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv, but sources say after a “violent incident” between the two pilots, it was diverted to Tabuk airport in northern Saudi Arabia. Flight data shows the plane dropped 17,400 feet in just under two minutes Israeli officials commend actions of passengers on Flydubai plane A number of Israeli officials have taken to social media to react to today’s events surrounding Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv in Israel, before a suspected attempted hijacking. Many commended the bravery of those on board the plane: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident on the plane “an attempted jihadist terror attack” that was “thwarted only thanks to the heroism of a number of Israeli passengers.” He did not give any evidence regarding his claim that the attempted attack was a jihadist one.

Yair Golan, the leader of the left-wing Democrats party, said he was filled with pride “for the brave Israelis who, in a moment of danger, displayed extraordinary resourcefulness and courage” on board the plane. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right Minister of National Security, thanked the “heroic passengers” on the plane, but said that “Israel’s security doctrine must be taken to the next level!” Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that his country “must relate to the intention and no… A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a serious incident that required an emergency landing.

Following a cockpit altercation, one pilot was arrested and investigated by Saudi authorities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the situation was managed and the safety of passengers was prioritized. Warplanes were scrambled in response to potential hijacking fears but were later stood down.