Flydubai Pilot Arrested After Stabbing Colleague, Attempting To Crash Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight | Sahara Reporters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot was arrested after passengers and crew members intervened during the incident and helped regain control of the aircraft.

A Flydubai pilot has been arrested after stabbing another pilot and attempting to crash a plane carrying passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot was arrested after passengers and crew members intervened during the incident and helped regain control of the aircraft. The Flydubai flight FZ1073 later diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, according to BBC.

The aircraft reportedly dropped about 17,000ft within two minutes during the incident, prompting an emergency response.

Netanyahu said one of the passengers and another crew member entered the cockpit and overpowered the pilot who had allegedly attacked his colleague and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls.

Flydubai said the aircraft experienced an altercation in the flight deck while travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport.

The airline said the plane was secured by on-duty crew members, who diverted it to Tabuk and landed safely, while all passengers and crew were accounted for.

The airline said two replacement aircraft were sent to Tabuk to transport the passengers and crew after the incident. Flydubai also said the reasons and motives behind the confrontation were unknown and would be established through a formal investigation.

Passengers described scenes of panic after the aircraft began losing altitude. One passenger told Israeli media that several people forced their way into the cockpit after hearing screams and helped subdue the attacker, while another passenger said the aircraft appeared to be going out of control before control was restored.

The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, described the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack, saying initial indications suggested that the pilot intended to crash the aircraft. However, the motive has not been established, and Flydubai has urged against premature speculation while the investigation continues.

The incident occurred as the aircraft was travelling across the region towards Israel. Flight-tracking data showed the plane issued emergency signals before turning away from its planned destination and diverting to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia.

All passengers eventually left the Saudi airport after Flydubai arranged replacement aircraft to take them from Tabuk. The airline said its immediate priority remained the safety and wellbeing of the passengers and crew as authorities investigate what happened inside the cockpit.