UAE airliner co-pilot plans Israeli airport crash, Saudi emergency landing

[Cairo Current Affairs] In an incident in which a United Arab Emirates (UAE) passenger plane headed for Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, Israeli media reported on the 4th that the co-pilot who attacked the captain during the flight told UAE authorities during questioning that he had planned to crash into an Israeli airport.

Passengers praise co-pilot for taking control; stabbed captain also unlocks cockpit door; makes emergency landing with ``extraordinary bravery''

According to the reported interrogation, the Omani co-pilot immobilized the pilot over Jordan, then obtained landing clearance, approached Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv in central Israel, and planned to crash the plane into an airport building or another aircraft.

The co-pilot has been on numerous flights to and from the airport in recent months. Detailed information was collected in June and the plan took shape. He said he tried to carry out the mission in July, but decided against it at the last minute because his friend was among the passengers.