Israel PM hails Indian pilot of rerouted Flydubai flight for averting disaster

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew aboard a Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Tel Aviv after a co-pilot allegedly tried to crash the plane, averting what he called a "catastrophic mid-air disaster." The plane, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, lost around 17,000 feet of altitude in a matter of minutes, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

All 174 passengers, 166 of whom were Israeli, were reported safe. Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed the passengers and the wounded pilot, identified as Smit Machchhar, for their courage in overpowered the attacker. The Indian embassy confirmed Machchhar was being treated in a Saudi hospital. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terror attack, while the UAE's Foreign Minister described it as an attempt against Israelis, the UAE, and the Abraham Accords. US President Donald Trump described the co-pilot as potentially a "terrorist or whack-job."