A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after an apparent cockpit struggle. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to be trying to crash the aircraft.
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Key facts
- A FlyDubai flight travelling from Dubai to Israel diverted to Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia.
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to try to crash the plane.
- The captain and first officer were injured, and one pilot has been arrested, officials say.
- The plane descended about 16,000ft in two minutes and transmitted three emergency signals, one indicating possible unlawful interference.
- Israeli officials are investigating whether the incident was an attempted terror attack and scrambled fighter jets fearing a hijacking.
A commercial FlyDubai flight travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an apparent brawl between its pilots, according to the Guardian. The incident briefly raised fears of an attempted hijacking before the aircraft landed safely.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said one of the FlyDubai pilots stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to be intending to crash the plane, the Guardian reported. Israeli officials said they were investigating whether the incident was an attempted terror attack on Israelis.
The flight was over Jordan when it diverted to Saudi Arabia, transmitting three emergency signals, one of which indicated a possible unlawful interference, according to the Guardian. The plane dipped dramatically during the reported fight, descending about 16,000ft in just two minutes.
Israeli officials scrambled fighter jets, fearful of a possible hijacking attempt on a plane carrying dozens of Israelis, before the aircraft landed at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, the Guardian reported.
Netanyahu said one of the passengers on the flight managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members, and together they “neutralised” the attacking pilot, according to the Guardian.
The Saudi Arabian airport where the plane was diverted said the captain and first officer were injured, the BBC reported. Officials say one pilot has been arrested.
Why it matters
An apparent attempt to crash a passenger aircraft, and a struggle in the cockpit of a flight carrying dozens of people, raises serious questions about aviation security and crew screening. The response, including scrambled fighter jets and an investigation into a possible terror attack, underscores the regional sensitivities surrounding flights to Israel.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the FlyDubai plane land?
The flight diverted to Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia after being over Jordan, according to the Guardian.
Was anyone hurt in the incident?
The captain and first officer were injured, according to the Saudi airport cited by the BBC. One pilot has been arrested, officials say.
Is the incident being treated as terrorism?
Israeli officials said they were investigating whether it was an attempted terror attack on Israelis, according to the Guardian, though no conclusion has been reported.
Timeline
- What we know about stabbing on Flydubai flight to Israel
BBC World: The captain and first officer were injured, and one pilot has been arrested, officials say.
- What we know so far about alleged stabbing of pilot by co-pilot on flight to Israel
The Guardian World: Plane made emergency landing after pilot tried to crash aircraft, Israeli PM says, as officials investigate whether it was an attempted terror attack One of the pilots of a plane flying from the UAE to Israel stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to try to crash the plane, the Israel
- What we know about the Dubai-Israel plane incident after reported stabbing
BBC World: The Saudi Arabian airport where the FlyDubai plane was diverted to said the captain and first officer were injured.