1 hr ago
Passengers Subdue Assailant After Flydubai Flight Emergency Landing
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a fight happened in the cockpit.
One pilot was accused of attacking the other with a knife.
The plane suddenly dropped very quickly, making passengers fear it might crash.
Some passengers and other pilots went into the cockpit and restrained the alleged attacker.
The aircraft then landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Everyone on board was accounted for, although both pilots were injured.
Saudi authorities arrested and questioned the alleged attacker.
Reports disagreed about which pilot started the attack, while Israeli officials called it a possible terror attack.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after a cockpit assault.
Passengers and other pilots reportedly entered the cockpit, restrained the assailant, and helped land the Boeing 737 MAX.
Flight data showed a rapid descent from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in about a minute.
All passengers were reported safe, while both pilots sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
Accounts differed over which pilot initiated the attack; Israeli officials described it as a possible attempted terror attack.
- Who
- Passengers, two pilots, other pilots traveling as passengers, Saudi authorities, and Israeli officials were involved.
- What
- A cockpit assault allegedly led one pilot to try to crash or sabotage the flight before passengers intervened.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, reportedly over Jordan, and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- Wednesday, September 30.
- Why
- Israeli officials assessed the incident as a possible attempted terror attack, while reports differed on the alleged assailant's motive and identity.
Passenger and Israeli Official Accounts
Reported Qualifications and Discrepancies
Who attacked whom
Passenger and Israeli Official Accounts
The Reuters account and passenger testimony described the co-pilot as stabbing the captain and attempting to crash or sabotage the plane.
Reported Qualifications and Discrepancies
The initial report's opening description said one pilot stabbed the co-pilot, creating a contradiction over the identity of the alleged attacker.
How to characterize the incident
Passenger and Israeli Official Accounts
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, described it as a highly severe security incident and an attempted terror attack.
Reported Qualifications and Discrepancies
A spokesperson for Netanyahu's office initially said the event was not believed to be a hijacking, calling it a different type of incident.
How control was regained
Passenger and Israeli Official Accounts
Passengers reportedly entered the cockpit, restrained the alleged attacker, and helped prevent a crash.
Reported Qualifications and Discrepancies
Reports differed on the exact roles of passengers, crew members, and two additional pilots in taking control and completing the landing.
Key facts
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia
- Descent
- From nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in roughly one minute, according to flight-tracking data
- Passengers
- All passengers were reported safe and accounted for
- Emergency signals
- The aircraft reportedly transmitted codes 7700 and later 7500 before returning to 7700
Quotes
Miryam Shira Ohayon
Passenger aboard the Flydubai flight who described the incident to reporters.
“It was really on the way to crashing, and it was simply the resourcefulness of many people who took control of the co-pilot and neutralised him.”
wionews.com
“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane.”
wionews.com
Sources
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