A commercial aircraft operating between Dubai and Israel experienced a serious incident during flight, resulting in an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia. The Boeing 737, operated by flydubai, had between 160 and 180 passengers onboard when the disturbance occurred approximately two and a half hours after departure from Dubai. The plane transmitted multiple emergency signals, including an indication of possible unlawful interference, while flying over Jordan airspace.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the pilots stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to be attempting to crash the aircraft. The incident triggered a dramatic loss of altitude, with the plane descending approximately 16,000 feet in two minutes. Israeli military officials scrambled fighter jets in response to concerns about a potential hijacking attempt. A passenger worked with a crew member to breach the cockpit and subsequently neutralized the attacking pilot, according to Netanyahu’s account.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed at 9:45am local time. Both pilots were transported to hospitals with injuries sustained during the altercation. An Israeli official identified the attacker as an Omani national, according to reporting from Reuters. Passenger accounts describe the aircraft as being out of control during the confrontation.
Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, characterized the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew members who intervened, commending their “exceptional resourcefulness and courage.” The incident has been classified as an extremely serious security matter by Israeli authorities, who are continuing their investigation into the motivations behind the attack.
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