Netanyahu: A pilot on a Fly Dubai flight stabbed his colleague in an attempt to bring down the plane

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that one of the pilots of a Flydubai flight that was diverted from arriving in Israel stabbed his co-pilot, in an apparent attempt to bring down the plane, the majority of whose passengers were Israeli.

Netanyahu spoke in a speech following the incident, in which he explained, “This morning, a very serious security incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Israel. Almost all of the passengers on the flight were Israelis. During the flight, as the plane approached Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and it appears that he tried to shoot down the plane with its passengers.”

He continued: "I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers. He told me that the plane went into a spin and began to fall. He said that he was able, with great difficulty, to break into the cockpit along with a crew member, and that together they were able to control the pilot who carried out the stabbing, while he was trying to jam the plane's systems."

He added that later, "an additional flight crew who was on board the plane entered the cockpit and was able to restore its balance."

Netanyahu pointed out that the plane then landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, "and all passengers were out of danger. The pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested, and the Saudi authorities are currently investigating him."

He continued: "We are in constant contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the continued safety of passengers and their safe return to Israel."

A Flydubai spokesman said earlier on Wednesday that flight No. FZ 1073 “saw an accident during the flight” and landed at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, stressing that all passengers are fine and safe.

A Flydubai spokesperson told CNN that the motive behind the incident is not yet clear, noting that "at this early stage, the reasons and motives behind this event are still unknown and are subject to an official investigation."

He called on "all parties to refrain from making premature speculation until the authorities collect the facts."

Two Israeli officials and an informed source also said that the Israeli authorities suspect that what happened on the flight to Tel Aviv may have been an attempt at a terrorist attack.

One of the officials said that information collected by the Israeli authorities indicates that the co-pilot tried to stab the pilot, and that an Israeli passenger helped control the co-pilot.