Stories
Mystery Deepens: Why Did Copilot Attack Captain on Israel-Bound Flight?
- •An Omani copilot stabbed the Indian captain of a FlyDubai flight carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, causing the plane to plummet dangerously before passengers intervened and landed it in Saudi Arabia.
- •Passengers described grappling with the copilot and stabilizing the plane after the bloodied captain opened the cockpit door, with one passenger, Asaf Rajuan, calling it an "instinct to survive."
- •Investigators from multiple countries, including Israel, the UAE, US, and Oman, are probing the motive, considering scenarios from terrorism to mental disorders; the copilot is under arrest.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attacker underwent Islamist indoctrination, though his office declined to comment on how he knew, and he stated it was too early to say if Iran was involved.
- •The plane descended from 33,000 to 17,000 feet in about a minute, making an erratic circle before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, a landing described as "miraculous" by the captain's former flight school.
Key Questions Answered
An Omani copilot stabbed the Indian captain of a FlyDubai flight from the UAE to Tel Aviv, causing the plane to plummet from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet. The bloodied captain managed to open the cockpit door, and passengers intervened to help secure the aircraft before it landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities have arrested the Omani suspect and are working with international partners, including Israel, the UAE, the United States, and Oman. Investigators are examining all possible scenarios ranging from terrorism to mental disorders, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attacker underwent Islamist indoctrination.
The FlyDubai flight was carrying 174 people. Most of the passengers were from Israel, along with individuals from India, the UAE, and four American citizens.
