Flydubai plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

[Cairo Current Affairs] A passenger plane operated by the UAE-based airline flydubai, which was heading from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tel Aviv, the commercial capital of Israel, made an emergency landing at an airport in Saudi Arabia on the 30th. Israeli commercial broadcaster Channel 12 reported that the co-pilot may have stabbed the pilot, causing the plane to crash and attempting suicide, leaving the passengers involved.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office denies that it was a hijacking. Since then, Israeli media have been reporting that high-ranking officials in the country called it a "terrorist act," and the information is confusing. According to Channel 12, the pilot and co-pilot are UAE and Omani nationals, respectively, but details are not available.

Reuters reported, citing flydubai, that there were about 150 people on board, including Israelis, but all were safe. The plane suddenly changed course over Jordan and issued an emergency signal. It steeply descended about 4,300 meters in about 30 seconds. Off-duty pilots who were on board the plane entered the cockpit, subdued the co-pilot, and forced the plane to land in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.