Passengers Subdue Co-Pilot Accused of Trying to Crash Israel-Bound Flight

What began as a routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a fight for survival on Wednesday after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft, forcing passengers and crew to intervene as the plane rapidly lost altitude.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said passengers and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit and overpower the co-pilot aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, allowing other pilots to take control and land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu described the episode as a “highly severe security incident” and said the alleged assailant, identified by an Israeli official as an Omani national, was arrested after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

According to Netanyahu’s account of what a passenger told him, the aircraft entered a spin and began diving as the crisis unfolded inside the cockpit. Those who entered the cockpit reportedly found the co-pilot attempting to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.

Flight-tracking data reviewed by Reuters indicated the aircraft suddenly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before its first emergency signal was transmitted. Flightradar24 separately reported that the aircraft transmitted emergency codes before diverting to Tabuk.

Despite the dramatic mid-air emergency, all passengers were reported safe. Flydubai confirmed that FZ1073 landed safely at Tabuk Airport and said all passengers were accounted for, while adding that it was cooperating with the relevant authorities.

Saudi airport authorities said both the captain and co-pilot sustained injuries and were taken to hospital following the emergency landing. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.

Israeli officials told Reuters their current assessment was that the incident was an attempted terror attack rather than a hijacking. Saudi authorities are expected to question the accused co-pilot as investigators work to establish exactly what happened aboard the aircraft.