Israeli Passengers Land Safely in Saudi Arabia After Mid-Air Attack

Israeli passengers aboard a Flydubai flight landed in Saudi Arabia following an emergency landing prompted by an attack on the aircraft's captain. New footage shows the Israeli passengers disembarking, clapping and singing "Od Avinu Chai" (Our Father Lives Still). Initial investigations suggest the co-pilot, reportedly of Omani origin, may have attempted suicide by crashing the plane, with Israeli officials suspecting a potential terror incident. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain multiple times. Crew members and passengers reportedly intervened, breaching the cockpit door to subdue the assailant. Another team of pilots, traveling as passengers for routine training, are credited with regaining control of the aircraft and stabilizing it during the dive.

Following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot was taken into custody for investigation by Saudi authorities. Israeli intelligence officials are also involved in the inquiry. A senior Israeli official stated that a "very heavy disaster was averted," noting that indications are strengthening that the co-pilot intended to seize control of the plane and crash it with the passengers aboard. The official described the incident as an attempt to replicate a "9/11" scenario, either by hijacking the plane to Israel or crashing it, emphasizing the critical role of the additional pilot team in preventing a "dramatic disaster."