Israel Suspects Terror Plot in Flydubai Incident; Co-Pilot Attacked Pilot
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Israeli authorities are investigating a Flydubai flight incident as a potential terror attack after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, and the co-pilot is under investigation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel suspects co-pilot's knife attack was terror plot to crash plane.
- Co-pilot allegedly stabbed captain, causing rapid altitude loss.
- Passengers and crew subdued co-pilot; plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
- Israeli jets scrambled; PM Netanyahu held emergency security consultations.
- Flydubai confirmed incident, sent replacement plane for passengers.
Israeli security officials increasingly suspect that a serious incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday was a deliberate terror attack intended to crash the plane. The co-pilot allegedly repeatedly stabbed the captain with a knife in the cockpit, aiming to seize control and crash the Boeing 737 with approximately 180 passengers, over 150 of whom were Israeli.
A senior security source stated that swift civilian intervention prevented a major disaster. The drama unfolded mid-flight as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude, dropping about 15,000 feet in minutes. Passengers reported hearing screams, and upon breaching the cockpit door, they found it covered in blood. Several Israeli passengers, working with crew members, subdued the co-pilot and regained control.
Simultaneously, a doctor and nurse on board provided initial medical aid to the injured, unconscious captain. During the struggle, the plane transmitted distress codes 7700 and 7500, indicating a hijacking or hostile takeover. This prompted the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets, and emergency measures were enacted across the region's airspace.
The aircraft diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident led to an emergency meeting in Israel involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, the IDF Chief of Staff, and the heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad. Despite initial conflicting reports, including suggestions of a fight between pilots or an accidental distress call, Israeli security forces are treating the event as a potential terrorist attack, and the co-pilot is under investigation.
Flydubai confirmed an unusual incident occurred and that the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia with no passenger injuries. The airline dispatched a replacement aircraft to Tabuk to bring passengers to Israel. As a precaution, all incoming Flydubai flights to Ben Gurion Airport are undergoing strict security checks in a secluded area.
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