Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after co-pilot stabs pilot
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the wounded pilot for fighting back after he was stabbed by his colleague, "preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster".
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a harrowing mid-air incident on Wednesday when the co-pilot stabbed the captain, causing the plane to plummet 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. The Australian-owned airline's Flight FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after passengers and off-duty crew breached the cockpit, restrained the attacker, and allowed a second pair of flydubai pilots to regain control of the aircraft.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the wounded captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, unlocked the cockpit door while covered in blood on the floor and passengers discovered the co-pilot hammering at flight control panels. Upon landing, 174 passengers arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on a replacement flydubai plane, with many describing the ordeal as a miracle and a testament to the passengers' quick thinking and courage.
Israeli authorities have announced tightened security vetting procedures for all foreign flight crews entering Israeli airspace in response to the incident.
Written by urgent.news from The Vibes's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Passenger videos show aftermath of alleged pilot stabbing on flight to Israel: "We need help" cbsnews.com
- Passengers and crew foil co-pilot hijack attempt on flydubai flight to Israel thevibes.com
- Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after co-pilot stabs pilot japantimes.co.jp
