What happened on diverted Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv?

On Wednesday, Channel 12 News aired an interview with a man posing as a passenger from a flydubai flight that was allegedly involved in an attempted hijacking. Reporter Tamir Steinman spoke with the hoaxer, who claimed that the plane began moving erratically and that a passenger shouted "Allahu Akbar." He described passengers' fear for the pilot's safety and the possibility of the aircraft crashing.

The reporter expressed doubt about the story when the hoaxer introduced himself as being with his brother Nevo, who he claimed was short for Nebuchadnezzar. This revelation suggested the caller was not an actual passenger on the plane.

The hoaxer's friend had warned Channel 14 about the impersonation attempt earlier. However, the man managed to convince Channel 12 News' researchers, pass their screening, and go live within minutes. According to a post by the hoaxer's friend, the incident was a deliberate attempt to "troll media systems in Israel." The author of the post criticized Channel 12 News for their handling of the situation, calling it "journalistic clownery" and highlighting a failure to verify interviewees' identities and credibility during a developing event.

The prank quickly became a topic of humor on social media, but it also sparked discussions about the verification process for live testimonies, especially during security incidents where false information can spread rapidly. Channel 12 News declined to comment on the matter.