Israel plane ‘hijacking’ latest: Pilot ‘stabbed co-pilot in cockpit’ as aircraft plunges 13,000ft
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A pilot on a flight from Dubai to Israel allegedly stabbed his co-pilot in an attempted hijacking in midair, according to reports.
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after Flydubai Flight FZ1073 dramatically dropped approximately 13,000 feet in 30 seconds as it veered off course on Wednesday morning, FlightRadar data shows.
The Boeing 737 plane, which Israeli media said had around 150 Israeli passengers on board, then again transmitted the initial general emergency signal before later landing at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, the website said.
A witness told the Jerusalem Post that one pilot stabbed the other before passengers near the front of the plane forced the attacker out of the cockpit. Two other pilots who were onboard at the back of the plane helped land the flight.
An Israeli official said a “major disaster was narrowly avoided”, according to the outlet, which reported that the Israeli security agencies including the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet believe the incident may have been intended as an act of terror.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed over the incident, which his office said in a statement was "under control," adding that all efforts were being made to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel.
A second FlyDubai flight FZ1081 from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted and is now heading back to Dubai, according to FlightRadar24.
A video shared by Israel’s Channel 13 shows a man with blood running down his face saying: “We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane. At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help.
“We’re landing in Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia. An unknown, unfamiliar area. On the plane, everybody is safe and sound, other than the pilot. We need help.”
A passenger has described how her husband helped “neutralise the terrorist” on board the flight.
The woman, named Meital, told Channel 12 that a member of the flight crew “tried to crash the plane” before being subdued by passengers.
“Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband immediately understood what was happening and rushed to the front of the plane, and along with other Israelis they neutralised the terrorist,” she said.
Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, said that her daughter had told her that she had heard screaming and that a man took a knife, put the pilot on the floor, and that there was blood everywhere. Pictures shared on social media showed passengers with clothes covered in blood.
An Israeli official said a “major disaster was narrowly avoided”, according to the outlet, which reported that the Israeli security agencies including the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet believe the incident may have been intended as an act of terror.
A pilot on a flight from Dubai to Israel allegedly stabbed his co-pilot in an attempted hijacking in midair, according to reports.
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after Flydubai Flight FZ1073 dramatically dropped around 13,000 feet in 30 seconds as it veered off course on Wednesday morning, FlightRadar data shows.
A witness told the Jerusalem Post that one pilot stabbed the other before passengers near the front of the plane forced the attacker out of the cockpit.
Two other pilots who were onboard at the back of the plane helped land the flight.
