Stories
Minister claims 'terrorist' sought to crash Flydubai plane, kill Israeli passengers
- •Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir alleged a "terrorist" intended to crash a Flydubai flight and murder 180 Israeli passengers, despite ongoing investigations into the incident.
- •The Flydubai flight FZ 1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an "incident" aboard the aircraft.
- •Reports indicate a physical confrontation between the captain and co-pilot in the cockpit, leading to injuries and a distress signal; two off-duty pilots reportedly intervened and landed the plane.
- •Passengers described a rapid descent, with the aircraft plunging nearly 17,000 feet in about a minute, causing fear among those on board.
- •The incident initially sparked fears of a hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets, though this hypothesis was later dismissed.
Key Questions Answered
Flydubai flight FZ 1073 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an incident en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv that involved an alleged cockpit fight between the pilot and co-pilot. The aircraft experienced a rapid descent, and both pilots were found injured and hospitalized.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir claimed the event was a terrorist incident intended to crash the plane and kill the 180 Israeli passengers on board. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations and monitored developments while the military scrambled fighter jets over initial hijacking fears.
Reports indicated a physical confrontation occurred between the captain and co-pilot inside the cockpit, causing injuries and a sharp drop in altitude from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet. Two off-duty pilots traveling as passengers reportedly entered the cockpit to help take control and land safely, while investigators examined whether one pilot attempted to crash the aircraft.
