Israeli Officials Suspect Pilot Attempted 9/11-Style Attack on Flydubai Flight

An Israeli official revealed that a co-pilot on a Flydubai flight en route to Israel stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane, in what is being investigated as a potential terror attack. Passengers and crew members reportedly intervened, storming the cockpit to subdue the assailant and prevent the aircraft from crashing. The incident prompted an urgent security and political response in Israel, including the scrambling of fighter jets.

The flight, carrying over 100 Israelis, disappeared from radar for approximately 30 minutes around 9:00 AM after an apparent hijacking signal was received. The plane eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia at 10:00 AM, after which Israeli airspace reopened. Israeli security forces are investigating the co-pilot, believed to be from a Gulf state, as a potential terrorist, though a mental health episode is also being considered.

An Israeli official described the event as a near-catastrophe, stating, "One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do a 9/11. Either hijack the plane to our country or crash it. The plane began to dive." He credited additional pilots on board, traveling as passengers during a routine training exercise, with subduing the attacker and stabilizing the aircraft, averting a "dramatic disaster."

Flydubai confirmed that a fight among the flight crew caused the incident. The suspected co-pilot is currently under investigation, with mounting evidence suggesting an intent to crash the plane with all its passengers.