Flydubai Plane Diverted After Pilot Attack, Lands Safely
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Flydubai flight diverted after pilot attack, lands safely in Saudi Arabia.
- Passengers subdued alleged assailant pilot after captain was stabbed.
- Israeli security agencies investigating incident as potential terror act.
- Replacement aircraft en route to bring Israeli passengers home.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu held security consultations on the incident.
A Flydubai flight carrying 174 Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation erupted between the pilots. The incident involved one pilot allegedly attacking the other, attempting to crash the plane by descending rapidly from 30,000 feet to 15,000 feet. Communication with air traffic control was lost temporarily, triggering an alert in Israeli airspace and prompting the scramble of fighter jets. Passengers intervened, subduing the assailant pilot. A doctor on board treated the injured captain, allowing the flight to continue.
Israeli security agencies, including the Shin Bet and Mossad, are investigating the incident, with initial assessments leaning towards a "terrorist act." Evidence suggests the co-pilot, from Oman, intended to hijack and crash the aircraft after stabbing the Indian captain. However, an alternative investigation angle considers the possibility of the co-pilot suffering from psychological distress. A reserve pilot from Fiji also assisted in subduing the attacker.
Following the incident, Flydubai confirmed the flight experienced an "incident" and landed safely in Tabuk, with all passengers unharmed. The airline arranged for a replacement aircraft to transport the passengers to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. The Israeli Airports Authority clarified that Israeli airspace remained open throughout the event. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held security consultations, and the Prime Minister's office stated the situation was under control and efforts were underway to return the passengers home. The Israeli military chief of staff also conducted an assessment with top security officials.
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