A pilot allegedly attempted to crash a Flydubai flight bound for Israel mid-air, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The incident occurred on a flight departing from the United Arab Emirates. The pilot reportedly stabbed his co-pilot in the cockpit. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu stated the pilot tried to take control of the aircraft with the intent of crashing it. A replacement aircraft later landed in Israel, carrying passengers from the affected flight. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot accused of the stabbing. A British off-duty pilot is said to have intervened in the cockpit to prevent the crash.
This incident follows a pattern of security concerns around Israeli airspace. Flydubai flights to Israel have been suspended following the attack. The motive behind the pilot’s actions remains under investigation. The co-pilot’s arrest has not been independently confirmed. Passengers reported a harrowing experience during the emergency. The incident has raised questions about aviation security.
