Investigators probe stabbing of pilot on FlyDubai flight
An Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain, causing a dangerous descent before the plane landed in Saudi Arabia.
Quick Look
- Investigators are probing why an Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain of a FlyDubai flight carrying 174 people from the UAE to Tel Aviv.
- Passengers intervened to stabilize the plane, which landed safely in Saudi Arabia after a sharp, damaging descent.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A FlyDubai flight carrying 174 passengers from the UAE to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an in-flight altercation.
Investigators worked Thursday to determine why an Omani pilot stabbed the captain of a flight to Israel, causing the plane to plummet dangerously before others on board landed it in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers on the FlyDubai plane – which was carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv – have described how the bloodied Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door to let them in before they grappled with the co-pilot and stabilised a descent so sharp that the plane’s rudder was torn away.
“We felt helpless, suspended in mid-air, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive,” Asaf Rajuan, who was among those who intervened, said in a statement shared by Israel’s presidency.
A regional official briefed on the investigation said the suspect, an Omani citizen, was under arrest and confirmed that Saudi authorities were working with countries, including Israel, to try to determine a motive. He said the UAE, the United States and Oman also were involved.
Open Questions
- What was the specific motive of the Omani co-pilot?
- How did the co-pilot gain access to a weapon?
