{
  "id": 11303281,
  "title": "Why copilot attacked captain of Israel-bound flight remains unknown",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/why-copilot-attacked-captain-of-israel-bound-flight-remains-unknown-11303281",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T23:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261002/why-copilot-attacked-captain-of-israel-bound-flight-remains-unknown"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The incident aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel remains shrouded in mystery for investigators. On Thursday, authorities were working to uncover the reason behind the Omani pilot allegedly stabbing the flight's captain, which led to the plane's dramatic descent and eventual landing in Saudi Arabia. The FlyDubai aircraft, carrying 174 passengers predominantly Israelis, had departed from the United Arab Emirates.\n\nAmidst the chaos, the injured Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door, granting the passengers access to confront the suspect. In a statement shared by Israel's presidency, one of the passengers, Asaf Rajuan, described the harrowing experience, stating, \"We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn't know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive.\" This account, shared with the public, provides a glimpse into the terror faced by those onboard.\n\nA regional official briefed on the ongoing investigation disclosed that the suspect, an Omani national, had been apprehended. It was also confirmed that Saudi authorities were collaborating with multiple nations, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Oman, to determine the motive behind the attack. The official emphasized that investigators were exploring all potential scenarios, ranging from terrorist actions to mental health issues, to piece together the sequence of events that led to this unsettling incident.",
  "summary": "JERUSALEM — Investigators worked Thursday to determine why an Omani pilot stabbed the captain of a flight to Israel, causing the plane to plummet dangerously before others on board landed it in Saudi Arabia. Passengers on the FlyDubai plane — which was carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv — have described how the bloodied Indian captain managed to open…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Why copilot attacked captain of Israel-bound flight remains unknown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/why-copilot-attacked-captain-of-israel-bound-flight-remains-unknown",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:57:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}