Flydubai Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Saudi as Indian Captain Thwarts Co-Pilot's Knife Attack
Passengers subdued the attacker after the aircraft lost altitude, and both pilots were hospitalized after the emergency landing, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Flydubai flight FZ1073 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent in-flight incident between pilots. Both pilots were injured, and the aircraft landed safely.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated one pilot stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the plane with passengers aboard. Passengers and crew intervened, overpowering the attacker and stabilizing the aircraft.
- Flight-Tracking data analysed by BBC Verify showed the aircraft plunging from about 34,000 feet to about 15,000 feet within five minutes. Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the aircraft was "pretty much out of control" when the stabbing occurred.
- Fearing a possible hijacking, Israeli authorities scrambled Israeli Air Force fighter jets during the incident. The pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested and remains under questioning by Saudi authorities.
- The incident occurs days before Israel marks the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, amid heightened regional tensions. Saudi Arabia, lacking formal diplomatic relations with Israel, has allowed Israeli overflights since 2022.
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17 Articles
‘I came to fight him’: Israeli doctor fought Flydubai attacker, then saved wounded ca
Musaev Shota says he rushed forward after hearing screams, helped restrain the suspected attacker and then treated the badly bleeding captain: ‘If we hadn’t acted, we wouldn’t be talking to you’
Indian-Origin Captain Fought Omani Co-Pilot Mid-Air, Averted Flydubai Crash; Saved 180 Lives: Reports
Reports indicate Machchhar was stabbed but fought back while passengers helped restrain the co-pilot. Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as a possible terror attack, aiming to determine the motive behind the attack.
Indian captain fought with co-pilot during Flydubai incident: Media report
Dubai, Sep 30 (PTI) An Indian national was the captain of a Flydubai flight who fought with his co-pilot during a violent cockpit confrontation that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, Israeli news website Ynet reported on Wednesday. Ynet, citing Israeli officials, reported that the co-pilot was an Omani national […]
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