Pilot on FlyDubai flight to Israel ‘stabbed another and tried to crash plane’
A FlyDubai pilot allegedly attempted to crash a plane carrying passengers to Israel after stabbing his co-pilot. Passengers and crew successfully intervened to neutralize the attacker, preventing a potential disaster.
Why it matters
This incident raises significant concerns regarding aviation security and the mental health screening of commercial airline pilots.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Saudi Arabia arrested the pilot of a FlyDubai flight who stabbed another pilot and reportedly tried to crash a plane full of Israelis.
Netanyahu said passengers and crew members on the flight managed to subdue the attacker, preventing a “major disaster”.
The Flydubai plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk “at 9.45am (0645 Irish time) and its captain and copilot were found to have injuries and were transported to hospital”, a statement from the company operating the airport said.
The low-cost carrier had earlier said flight FZ 1073 “experienced an incident while en route. The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for”.
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