El piloto de un vuelo con destino a Israel intentó estrellar el avión, según Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attempted to crash the aircraft, according to Netanyahu. The plane plummeted 6,096 meters within minutes, and was later diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. A video shared by the Israeli leader depicted a heated altercation between the pilots of the flight with over 150 passengers.

One pilot allegedly aided the other, seemingly attempting to crash the plane, while passengers informed that they and a crew member subdued the pilot. Another crew member entered the cockpit and stabilized the plane, according to Netanyahu. Flightradar24 reported that the aircraft stabilized after a strong descent and transmitted an extremely rare illicit interference code, commonly used to signal a hijacking.

Flydubai confirmed that the plane was secured successfully after the confrontation, safely landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers shared distressing videos and accounts of blood-stained clothes after the landing. It was unclear initially what prompted the pilot's actions; a senior Israeli official stated the attacker was of Omani nationality, describing the incident as a planned attack similar to 9/11.

Witnesses testified of passengers rushing into the cockpit to quell the fight between the pilots. The plane's turbulence was described as terrifying, with passengers realizing the pilots had lost control after one was aided. A mother of a Flydubai passenger told Reuters that her daughter heard a pilot screaming for help, followed by two pilots taking control after several minutes.

Israeli security forces took the wounded pilot to the hospital, and Cluster2, the company managing Tabuk Airport, stated that the commander and co-pilot sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the hospital.