A Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying up to 180 passengers made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an onboard altercation that Israeli media link to a feud between the plane's two pilots. An Israeli minister described the episode as a 'terrorist' incident.
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Key facts
- A Flydubai Boeing 737 Max 8 with up to 180 passengers made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
- The flight was bound for Israel when a physical altercation between the pilot and co-pilot prompted initial fears of a hijacking.
- The plane transmitted three emergency signals, one indicating possible unlawful interference.
- Israeli media reported passengers storming the cockpit to subdue an attacker, with one pilot seriously injured.
- An Israeli minister described the incident as a 'terrorist' attempt to kill Israelis.
An Israel-bound passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on 30 September after a physical altercation on board raised fears of a possible hijacking, according to the Guardian.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying up to 180 passengers, landed at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport after transmitting three emergency signals. One of these indicated what is known as a possible unlawful interference, the Guardian reported.
Israeli media said the incident stemmed from a feud between the plane’s two pilots. Reports described dramatic testimonies and video from people on board, with some passengers said to have stormed the cockpit to subdue the attacker and one of the pilots reported to have been seriously injured.
In a video reposted by Israeli social media users, one passenger, with blood dripping from an open wound on his head, pleaded for assistance and said the plane was descending into Saudi Arabia, a country with which Israel has no diplomatic relations. ‘We are here during an attack on the plane. We just subdued the terrorists and are preparing to land,’ the man said in Hebrew, according to the Guardian.
An Israeli minister decried what he described as a ‘terrorist’ incident intended to kill Israelis, the Guardian reported.
The BBC reported that passengers on the Flydubai flight bound for Israel filmed the moments following a stabbing on board.
Why it matters
An onboard emergency that triggered hijacking fears on a flight bound for Israel raises serious aviation safety and security concerns. The diversion to Saudi Arabia, a country with no diplomatic ties to Israel, adds a sensitive geopolitical dimension to the incident.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Israel-bound flight land?
The Boeing 737 Max 8 made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, according to the Guardian.
What caused the emergency?
Israeli media said the incident stemmed from a feud between the plane's two pilots, which led to a physical altercation and initial fears of a hijacking, according to the Guardian.
Was anyone injured?
Israeli media reported that one of the pilots was seriously injured, and a video showed a passenger with blood dripping from an open wound on his head, according to the Guardian. The BBC reported a stabbing took place on board.
Timeline
- Passengers describe stabbing on Israel-bound plane
BBC World: Passengers on the Flydubai flight bound for Israel filmed the moments following the stabbing.
- Israeli minister claims ‘terrorist’ wanted to crash plane after Tel Aviv-bound flight’s emergency landing – latest
The Guardian World: Israeli media say incident, which raised fears of possible hijacking, stemmed from feud between plane’s two pilots Full report: Israel-bound passenger plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia In a video from inside the plane that was reposted by Israeli social media users, o
- Israeli minister claims ‘terrorist’ wanted to crash plane after Israel-bound flight’s emergency landing – latest
The Guardian World: Israeli media say incident, which raised fears of possible hijacking, stemmed from feud between plane’s two pilots Full report: Israel-bound passenger plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia An Israeli minister has decried what he described as a “terrorist” incident to kill