Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the co-pilot of a Flydubai aircraft, which executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, stabbed the pilot and seemingly attempted to bring down the plane.
Netanyahu made the claim in a video statement from his office on Wednesday afternoon, his first public comment on the incident.
He said the incident occurred as the plane approached Israel, adding that “all indications show that he tried to crash the plane” with everyone on board.
The prime minister said the co-pilot had been arrested and was being interrogated by Saudi authorities.
Israeli officials identified the suspect as the plane’s co-pilot.
Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with mostly Israeli passengers, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Reuters reported that 172 people were on board, including 169 Israeli citizens.
Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger told him the aircraft went into a spin and began to descend.
According to the Prime Minister, the passenger broke into the cockpit with a crew member and together they overpowered the suspect. Another crew member then stabilised the plane.
Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft dropped nearly 14,000 feet within 30 seconds during the incident.
Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew members who intervened as “heroes” and said he had directed Israel’s security establishment to prepare for possible additional threats.
Flydubai said the aircraft was secured by on-duty crew members travelling on the flight and that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for.
The airline said: “At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown.” Flydubai said the matter was subject to a formal investigation.
The captain and the first officer were injured and taken to hospital, according to a statement from Tabuk airport carried by Saudi state television.
Israeli officials described the incident as an attempted terror attack, although Netanyahu did not use the term. The plane had earlier transmitted emergency signals, including one indicating possible unlawful interference, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets amid fears of a hijacking.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns across the Middle East.
What You Should Know
This alarming incident involved a commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying predominantly Israeli passengers, which was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia after a violent cockpit altercation. Quick-thinking passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the co-pilot and stabilize the aircraft, preventing a catastrophic disaster.
- Positive Impact: Swift intervention by passengers and crew successfully averted a mass tragedy, highlighting the critical importance of onboard vigilance.
- Potential Concerns: The security breach raises severe questions about cockpit security protocols and could trigger heightened aviation security checks and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
