1 hr ago
Passengers Foil Attempt to Crash Flydubai Flight, Israel Says
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when officials said two pilots began fighting.
They said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and tried to make the plane crash.
The plane quickly dropped to a much lower altitude, frightening the passengers.
The injured captain opened the cockpit door.
A passenger and a crew member entered and helped stop the co-pilot.
Other pilots on the plane then helped fly it to safety.
The plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the passengers later flew to Israel on another aircraft.
Officials are still investigating why the incident happened, and the airline warned people not to guess about the motive.
Israeli officials said a co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The aircraft rapidly lost altitude, with reports differing between nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds and 16,000 feet in about a minute.
Passengers and crew entered the cockpit, overpowered the attacker, and helped enable other pilots to land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Both pilots were hospitalized, while passengers later reached Israel aboard a replacement aircraft more than 10 hours after departure.
Flydubai said the underlying reasons remained unknown, and Israeli and Saudi authorities continued investigating the security incident.
- Who
- The passengers, crew, captain, co-pilot, and additional Flydubai pilots aboard flight FZ1073 were involved; Israeli officials said most of the approximately 170 to 174 passengers were Israelis.
- What
- A cockpit altercation allegedly involving a stabbing and an attempted crash was stopped by passengers and crew.
- Where
- The flight traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv before diverting and landing at Tabuk's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- Wednesday, September 30, about two and a half hours after the flight left Dubai.
- Why
- Officials said the motive was unknown and remained under investigation.
Israeli Officials' Account
Airline and Cautious Reporting
What happened in the cockpit
Israeli Officials' Account
Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the captain, tried to crash the plane, and was subdued after the injured captain opened the cockpit door.
Airline and Cautious Reporting
Flydubai described the event as an altercation or security incident and said the underlying reasons remained unknown, cautioning against premature speculation.
Details about the pilots
Israeli Officials' Account
Israeli officials identified the alleged attacker as the co-pilot and said he would be interrogated by Saudi authorities; one official identified him as an Omani national.
Airline and Cautious Reporting
Israeli media published conflicting reports about the pilots' nationalities, with some reports identifying them as Omani and Emirati and others as Russian and Ukrainian.
Security response
Israeli Officials' Account
Israel said it would tighten checks on the identities and backgrounds of pilots flying into the country.
Airline and Cautious Reporting
The airline and the United Arab Emirates' aviation regulator confirmed a security incident occurred but did not publicly establish the motive or explain how the alleged weapon entered the aircraft.
Key facts
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Planned route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Diversion airport
- Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Passengers
- Reports cited approximately 170 to 174 people aboard
- Reported descent
- The aircraft dropped from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet; Reuters reported a nearly 14,000-foot drop in less than 30 seconds
- Pilot injuries
- Both pilots were hospitalized; an injured passenger was also treated in Israel and reported in mild condition
- Passenger arrival
- Passengers reached Ben Gurion Airport more than 10 hours later on a replacement aircraft
Quotes
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime minister of Israel who described the cockpit incident and response
“I just can say that it was a miracle. It was awful, crazy, and we thank God that we survived it, we didn’t think we will make it but thank God we are in Israel. We are back home. And we are happy to see everyone here”
theprint.in
“This is something you do without thinking, just running to save your daughter’s life, your family’s life”
theprint.in
Sources
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