A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an alleged struggle erupted in the cockpit, with Israel claiming one of the pilots attempted to crash the aircraft.
Passengers on board described a terrifying scene in which control of the aircraft was reportedly fought over after the plane suddenly plunged about 5,180 metres in just one minute, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
Flydubai said all passengers were safe and that the cause of the incident remained unclear. Media reports said 166 of the 174 passengers were Israeli citizens.
One passenger told AFP that the group later continued its journey to Tel Aviv after waiting in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon claimed the aircraft was nearly uncontrollable after one pilot allegedly attempted to stab the other while the plane was flying over Jordan during the journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
“The plane was really close to crashing,” she said, claiming several passengers managed to overpower the co-pilot and prevent him from taking control. A doctor on board also provided initial medical assistance, she said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said in a video message that he had spoken to an Israeli passenger who entered the cockpit when the aircraft began losing altitude and struggled with the pilot.
According to Netanyahu, one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and was believed to have attempted to bring down the aircraft with all those on board.
Another crew member then entered the cockpit and managed to stabilise the aircraft, Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu added that the pilot accused of stabbing his colleague had been detained and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
“I have instructed the security forces to prepare for the possibility of additional threats. We continue to assess the situation,” he said.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack that was thwarted by the bravery of several Israeli passengers.
However, Katz did not disclose the basis for linking the alleged incident to a terrorist motive, while the identity of the pilot involved had not been made public.
The incident came a day after Netanyahu warned of a possible attack ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, prompting opposition leader Yair Lapid to accuse him of trying to create fear.
Katz later appeared to respond indirectly to Lapid, saying security warnings issued by the government should be taken seriously by Israel’s enemies abroad as well as “former insiders” who were not following current developments.
