Stories
Netanyahu: flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Pilot, Tried to Crash Plane
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated a flydubai co-pilot attacked the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- •Passengers described a struggle for control after the plane plunged approximately 17,000 feet within a minute, according to Flightradar24 data.
- •The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where both the captain and co-pilot were hospitalized with injuries.
- •Netanyahu credited an Israeli passenger and another flight crew member with intervening to prevent a disaster and land the plane.
- •The incident is being investigated, with some Israeli media reporting concerns of a suicide attempt by one of the pilots.
Key Questions Answered
The co-pilot of a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the pilot with a knife and tried to crash the aircraft. The plane plunged by around 17,000 feet within a minute before passengers and crew intervened, subdued the co-pilot, and forced an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after being diverted following the cockpit altercation and sudden 17,000-foot descent. Both the captain and co-pilot suffered injuries and were taken to a local hospital.
Passengers showed extraordinary resourcefulness by entering the cockpit, confronting the co-pilot, and neutralizing him to prevent a crash. A doctor on board also provided first aid, and another flight crew member ultimately took control of the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia.
