Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that a pilot aboard a Flydubai flight heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv attempted to crash the aircraft after attacking the other pilot.
The plane, carrying 174 passengers, including 166 Israelis, was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the incident. Flydubai confirmed that all passengers were safe, although the two pilots sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
According to passengers, the aircraft suddenly lost about 17,000 feet in altitude within one minute while flying over Jordan. They described the experience as being like a “rollercoaster” and said passengers intervened when fighting reportedly broke out inside the cockpit.
Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger managed to enter the cockpit and help restrain the pilot who was allegedly attempting to bring down the aircraft. He praised the passengers for their actions, saying they helped prevent what could have been a major disaster.
One passenger, Miryam Shira Ohayon, said the plane appeared to be “pretty much out of control” after one pilot allegedly attacked the other with a knife.
Saudi authorities are questioning the pilot accused of the attack. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an alleged “jihadist terror attack,” although no independent evidence establishing the motive was immediately provided.
Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft descended from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in about a minute.
Israeli media also reported that fighter jets were scrambled amid fears that the aircraft might have been hijacked.
Authorities have not yet released details about the pilots’ nationalities or provided a full account of what happened inside the cockpit.
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