Netanyahu: Flydubai Pilot Attacked Co-Pilot, Attempted Plane Crash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that a pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel, carrying 174 Israelis, stabbed the other pilot and "apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board." The suspect is reportedly in Saudi custody and under investigation. Netanyahu, in his first public comment on the incident, described it as a "very serious security event" and praised the "heroes" on the flight for their "composure and courage." He also instructed Israeli security agencies to prepare for potential further threats.

The details of the incident are currently based on an Israeli account and are under investigation. Authorities are examining whether the co-pilot's actions were a terrorist act or stemmed from psychological distress. The flight briefly lost contact with air traffic control on Wednesday morning before communication was restored, following a struggle in the cockpit. The plane, with 174 Israelis including 27 children aboard, experienced a rapid descent of approximately 15,000 feet, triggering an emergency alert.

Reports indicate that crew members and passengers intervened to subdue the suspect and regain control of the aircraft. One Israeli passenger described hearing screams from the cockpit and entering with two others to overpower the attacker, noting he was covered in blood. A reserve pilot from Fiji, a doctor on board, and other passengers assisted in subduing the suspect and treating the injured pilot, who is Indian. The suspect is reportedly from Oman.

Israeli security agencies, including the Shin Bet and Mossad, are investigating the incident. There is a growing assessment within the Israeli security establishment that the event may have been an attempted terrorist attack. However, investigators are also considering the possibility of a psychological episode as the motive. The co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the plane and crash it after stabbing the captain, before being overpowered by the crew and passengers, which led to the activation of the emergency beacon.