Israel: Attempted attack on Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv

Middle East

Israel: Attempted attack on Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv

According to Israel, one of the pilots stabbed his colleague in the cockpit and the plane went into a nosedive. Passengers are also said to be responsible for preventing a catastrophe.

After the violent incident in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight on the way to Tel Aviv The Israeli government assumes an attempted terrorist attack. Minister of Defense Israel Katz spoke of an “attempted jihadist attack” that was only thwarted thanks to the courage of Israeli passengers. The plane was initially able to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. In the evening, the passengers landed safely back on Tel Aviv on board a replacement plane Airportwhere their relatives were waiting for them.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu One of the pilots stabbed his colleague with a knife as the Flydubai plane approached Israel in the morning. He apparently intended to crash the plane with the passengers. Also Israel’s police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke of an attempted terrorist attack.

The Emirati state airline Flydubai confirmed an altercation in the cockpit. The in Dubai The plane that took off was landed safely at Tabuk airport by a second crew who were traveling in the cabin.

The airport in Tabuk said the captain and first officer were taken to hospital with injuries. There was initially no information about any other injuries. “All passengers and crew are safe,” Flydubai said.

It was previously reported that the plane first sent the code 7700, which indicates an emergency, and then the code 7500, which is used to report a hijacking.

Netanyahu said almost all of the passengers on the flight were Israelis. The attacker has been arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi security authorities. Netanyahu said he had instructed the Israeli security forces to prepare for “potential further threats,” without giving further details.

The airline’s statement went on to say that the background and motives for the incident were unclear. The company urged people to refrain from speculation while the investigation continues.

The Israeli news portal “ynet” reported that the plane flew steeply at the beginning of the incident. A picture from on board the landed plane is said to show a passenger with a blood-stained shirt. One of the pilots suffered a stab wound. Initially there was only talk of a fight between the captain and the co-pilot.

Netanyahu said a passenger described to him during a telephone conversation how the plane began to spin and went into a nosedive. According to the description, the passenger and a crew member managed to get into the cockpit. Together they switched off the attacker while he tried to damage the on-board devices.

The head of government expressed his respect “for the heroes who had shown extraordinary presence of mind and daring”. “They saved many lives, they prevented a serious catastrophe,” said Netanyahu.