The plane had left Dubai and was headed to Tel Aviv. A co-pilot of Omani origin attacked the commander with a knife. During the scuffle, 4 passengers and an off-duty pilot intervened to block the attacker, who was immobilized. The aircraft issued emergency and hijack codes. After the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the passengers returned to Israel. Israel evokes September 11th. Trump: "He's piloting a terrorist or a madman"
A FlyDubai flight headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to interrupt the route after the co-pilot attacked the captain, attempting, according to initial reconstructions, to crash the plane. The man, armed with a knife, was stopped by some passengers and off-duty pilots who were on board. Passengers immobilized and tied him, handing him over to the police after landing safely in the Saudi airport of Tabuk. Israel feared another 9/11, this time in Tel Aviv.
The hypothesis of the terrorist attack
Israeli officials believe the co-pilot's aim was for a terrorist attack. Channel 12 sources explain that Israel currently has no indication that the attack was directed by Iran or another organized entity. And it seems that he acted as a "lone wolf". Little has been revealed about him: it is known that he is an Omani, probably with dual citizenship to be able to fly on a route for which Israel only authorizes crews from certain countries (and not Muscat). The man was arrested and under interrogation. A colleague described him as fervently religious: "He prayed excessively throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women."
In-depth analysis
Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, what we know about the dispute between pilots on the plane
The reactions of Katz and Netanyahu
Defense Minister Israel Katz meanwhile declared that 'the serious accident on the FlyDubai plane was an attempted jihadist attack, foiled only thanks to the heroism of some Israeli passengers and a reserve pilot. According to initial information, the terrorist's intent was to crash the plane with all the passengers. Benjamin Netanyahu also paid "homage to the heroes on board" who prevented the tragedy, adding that he had given "instructions to the security apparatus to prepare to face any further threats". The prime minister only yesterday declared that Israel is in possession of "indications of possible attacks by its enemies in view of the next elections". Neither the minister nor the prime minister specified whether the intelligence alerts included specific information about aerial threats. Donald Trump also spoke on the case, saying in the Oval Office that he had spoken to Netanyahu about the accident on the plane. "Maybe the pilot was a terrorist or crazy." “An incredible story,” he added.
See also
Netanyahu: "Terrorist on FlyDubai flight arrested"
The investigation and the stop to flights
Flydubai cautioned against drawing conclusions about the motive while the investigation - led by Israelis, Emiratis and Saudis - is ongoing. The prudence of the Emirati company, founded in 2008 as a low cost carrier and becoming Dubai's second carrier, clashes with the Israeli assessment which from the first moment spoke of a terrorist trail. And he decided to interrupt FlyDubai flights for 6 days after Netanyahu had a telephone conversation with President bin Zayed. Late in the morning, the prime minister himself had brought together the security officials, Shmuel Ben Ezra and Major General Guy Markizeno, to assess the situation.
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Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, passengers injured after argument between pilots
The diving plane and the attack in the cabin: what we know
It was still early in the morning when the plane leaving Dubai for Tel Aviv with 174 passengers on board, 27 children, mostly Israelis, suddenly took a dramatic dive, while screams came from the cockpit and the aircraft went out of control. According to subsequent reconstruction, the turmoil and the downward fall prompted an off-duty pilot and four passengers to immediately run towards the cockpit. Commander Smith Machachar, an Indian, covered in blood, had been hit by the co-pilot with the emergency axe. The five wasted no time: they saw the co-pilot trying to destroy the on-board instruments and after a struggle that lasted about twenty minutes they tied his hands and feet.
In-depth analysis
Flydubai, the low-cost airline of the Emirates: what to know
The hijacking code, landing in Saudi Arabia and returning to Israel
The FlyDubai plane which took off from the Emirates at 6.05 am for Tel Aviv, after two hours of flight, went from over 10 thousand meters of altitude to 4,267 meters in the space of 30 seconds. At 8.31am, while it was flying over the Arabian Peninsula, the general emergency code came from the cabin, another seven minutes and the aircraft transmitted the code 7500: hijacking. There were moments of pure terror captured on cell phone videos. At that point two Israeli Air Force fighters had already taken off and the military leaders had gathered. The plane turned back and landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. In the evening the return to Israel where the passengers arrived at Tel Aviv airport, with a Flydubai relief flight, welcomed by the prime minister. Hugs and applause, happy to have managed despite everything.
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Emergency on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, passengers at the airport
