Passengers Restrained Hijacker With Headphones During Flydubai Plane Dive
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli passengers tied up a hijacker with headphone cords during a flight.
- Pilots, including Israelis, safely landed a Flydubai plane after a hijacking attempt.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage, including a detached rudder, during a steep dive.
- The incident prompted high-level security consultations in Israel.
- The Transportation Minister called for a suspension of Flydubai flights.
New details have emerged regarding the dramatic events aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which experienced a hijacking attempt and a severe dive. Israeli passengers on board formed an emergency response team, with some subduing the hijacker and tying him up using headphone cords, while others, identified as pilots, safely landed the aircraft. The plane's rapid descent of 4,000 meters per minute caused significant damage to the tail, including the detachment of one of the rudders, further complicating the emergency landing. The pilots who landed the plane were reportedly Israeli citizens who happened to be on the flight.
During the ordeal, passengers described panic as the plane deviated from its course and activated a distress code indicating a hijacking. Footage from the cockpit showed two injured and bleeding pilots, with one passenger reporting that a pilot had stabbed another. Passengers took control of the situation, guarding the cockpit door to prevent further access.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held urgent security consultations with top defense officials. The IDF Chief of Staff, head of the Shin Bet, and head of the Mossad also held a phone conference to coordinate intelligence and operational information. The Prime Minister's office stated that Netanyahu was monitoring the developments closely.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev has called for an immediate halt to all Flydubai flights until the incident is fully investigated. She also requested that flights operated by Israeli airlines, such as El Al, Israir, and Arkia, which undergo Israeli security screening, be prioritized. The Israel Airports Authority established a dedicated waiting and information area for the families of the passengers at Terminal 1.
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