A pilot aboard a Flydubai flight reportedly attempted to crash the aircraft while traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. According to Israeli media reports, the pilot attacked his co-pilot with a knife and allegedly tried to take control of the plane. The pilot was eventually subdued thanks to the intervention of the crew and passengers. Following the incident, the other pilot managed to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli security services, including the Mossad and the Shin Bet, suspect that the event was a terrorist act. During the commotion, the aircraft lost approximately 4,000 meters in altitude. Israeli media also reported that the alleged perpetrator is from Oman, a country with no diplomatic relations with Israel. Previous, unconfirmed reports had mentioned a struggle in the cockpit between a Ukrainian and a Russian pilot.
The aircraft, registered FZ-1073, had transmitted multiple emergency codes during the flight, indicating both an on-board disturbance and a potential hijacking. The incident led to a temporary closure of Israeli airspace and increased vigilance from the Israeli Air Force, with fighter jets scrambling.
Following the emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, injured pilots were rushed to the hospital. Investigations are ongoing. Israeli authorities stated that nearly all of the 174 passengers aboard were Israeli citizens.
