Flydubai Plane Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Co-Pilot Attacks Pilot
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Co-pilot stabbed pilot and attempted to crash Flydubai flight to Israel.
- Israeli passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot mid-flight.
- Plane diverted to Saudi Arabia with 100 Israeli passengers aboard.
- Pilot activated distress and hijacking signals during the incident.
- Israeli security forces held urgent consultations following the event.
A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a severe incident mid-air, leading to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot reportedly stabbed the pilot and may have intended to crash the aircraft. The pilot managed to activate a general distress signal and then a hijacking alert before the plane lost over 14,000 feet in altitude within a minute. Approximately 100 Israeli passengers were on board.
Israeli security officials were alerted and engaged in urgent discussions, including the Prime Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff. Passengers described hearing screams and seeing blood in the cockpit, realizing a passenger had attacked the pilot with a knife. Israeli passengers and crew members reportedly intervened and subdued the co-pilot. One passenger described the moments as believing it was the end, with prayers of "Shema Yisrael" being recited.
The aircraft, flight FZ 1073, disappeared from tracking systems over Jordan for a period before reappearing. Israeli fighter jets initially escorted the plane, later joined by Saudi jets as it approached Saudi territory. The plane landed in Saudi Arabia around 10:00 AM. The CEO of Flydubai informed Israeli authorities that a replacement aircraft would be sent to Saudi Arabia to bring the passengers to Israel.
The Prime Minister's office stated the situation was under control and all measures were being taken to ensure the safe return of the Israeli passengers. The Saudi police have opened an investigation into the incident, the details of which are still being clarified. Images from the plane showed one passenger's shirt stained with blood.
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