Pilot stabs fellow pilot on flight to Israel before passengers intervene to stop attack
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A copilot stabbed a captain in an apparent attempt to crash a jetliner Wednesday as it was flying 174 people to Israel. Passengers burst into the cockpit and wrestled with the attacker even as the plane descended sharply, witnesses and Israel’s government said. The plane made an emergency landing in […] The post Pilot stabs fellow pilot on flight to Israel before…
A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 passengers, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a pilot attempted to stab his co-pilot, witnesses reported. Passengers rushed into the cockpit and subdued the attacker, preventing a potential catastrophe. The incident occurred as the plane descended sharply from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in just over a minute.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the captain as Indian national Smit Machchhar and noted his bravery in resisting the attacker. The suspect, an Omani national, was arrested and interrogated in Saudi Arabia. Israeli authorities treated three passengers with minor injuries and suspended FlyDubai flights to and from Israel for further investigation.
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