.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Harrowing new details have emerged from the midair chaos aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, where officials say one pilot stabbed another and apparently tried to bring down the passenger jet before travelers rushed the cockpit and stopped him.
FlyDubai Flight 1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when a violent struggle erupted at the controls, sending the aircraft plunging thousands of feet and triggering emergency alerts before it diverted to Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and “apparently attempted to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” nearly all of them Israelis.
The aircraft abruptly reversed course near the Saudi-Jordanian border and made an emergency landing at an airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, at about 9:45 a.m. local time.
Israeli officials said the jet was carrying roughly 160 to 180 passengers.
Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger later described forcing his way into the cockpit with a crew member before helping overpower “the attacking pilot while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems.”
“I salute these heroes, who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage,” he added. “They saved many lives and prevented a disaster.”
Passengers described a chaotic scene inside the aircraft as people scrambled toward the front of the cabin.
One passenger later said travelers had subdued the attacker and were guarding the wounded captain as the jet approached Saudi Arabia.
POLL: Do You Approve Of Secretary Of War Pete Hegseth?
Videos apparently recorded aboard the aircraft showed bloodied passengers and an injured man as travelers tried to process what had just happened.
The attacking pilot was taken into custody and was being questioned by Saudi authorities, Netanyahu said.
Both the pilot and co-pilot were hospitalized after sustaining injuries, according to officials at the Tabuk airport.
Despite the violence in the cockpit and the dramatic descent, the aircraft landed safely.
A replacement plane later carried the passengers from Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said none of the passengers required immediate medical treatment after they arrived.
The motive remains under investigation.
Israeli authorities are examining several possibilities, including whether the episode was an attempted attack targeting Israelis or a suicide attempt.
RELATED: NEW: Passenger Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Co-Pilot Stabs Captain Mid-Flight
Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation took place but has released few details about how it began.
A company spokesperson said crew members on duty were able to secure the aircraft.
The episode initially triggered fears that the plane had been hijacked.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft transmitted emergency code 7700 before switching to 7500, which signals hijacking or unlawful interference, and later returning to the general emergency code.
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as security officials monitored the unfolding crisis.
Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials also held emergency consultations while authorities worked to determine exactly what was happening aboard the flight.
Much about the incident remains unclear, including what sparked the cockpit confrontation and whether the alleged attempt to crash the plane was ideologically motivated.
POLL: Should Migrants Who Murder Americans Face The Death Penalty?
Continue reading...
[ H/T Trending Politics ]
