Flydubai Flight Suspected Terror Act After Pilot Attempted Crash

Israeli security agencies, including the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad, are increasingly assessing that a Flydubai flight incident on Wednesday was a terror act, with suspicions that one of the pilots, an Omani national, intended to crash the plane. A second pilot, an Emirati, is believed to have regained control with the help of passengers and covert security personnel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to dispatch military rescue planes to bring the passengers back to Israel, while El Al had previously offered assistance.

The flight, originating from Dubai, entered Jordanian airspace and transmitted emergency codes indicating distress and a potential hijacking. The aircraft then turned back towards Saudi Arabian airspace, descending rapidly from over 34,000 feet to approximately 14,000 feet. After a tense period, Israeli security officials confirmed the plane was expected to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, which it did.

Flydubai confirmed the distress signal was triggered by an "act of violence" on board, specifically a fight between the pilots. The airline stated that a replacement aircraft would be sent to collect the passengers and continue to Israel. Passengers reported a physical altercation between the captain and first officer, during which the plane lost altitude sharply. Some passengers intervened, attempting to assist the attacked pilot and reportedly breaching the cockpit to subdue the aggressor, who may have been armed with a knife.

The incident, involving 174 passengers including 27 children, triggered an urgent security consultation in Israel, with fighter jets scrambled. Flydubai is the sole airline operating flights from the UAE to Israel, following Israeli security directives that have restricted Israeli airlines from flying to the Emirates since Operation "Lion's Roar." Aviation sources suggest this event may lead to a review of existing flight regulations. Upon its return to Ben Gurion Airport, Flydubai flights are subject to thorough checks of aircraft and crews to rule out further involvement.