The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been taken into custody following an incident in which he apparently stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday.
According to Netanyahu, passengers and on-duty Flydubai crew members who were traveling on the flight helped break into the cockpit. They successfully subdued the co-pilot, allowing the remaining pilots to land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. The airline confirmed that the aircraft was secured by its staff and that all passengers and crew are safe.
“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and, apparently, tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” Netanyahu said in a video statement released by his office. He added that he had spoken with an Israeli passenger who reported that the plane entered a spin and began to descend. That passenger managed to break into the cockpit with a crew member and helped overpower the attacker.
Data from Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft descended nearly 14,000 feet within a 30-second period during the disturbance. Netanyahu praised the interveners as “heroes” who demonstrated “extraordinary resourcefulness” and saved many lives.
The co-pilot, involved in flight FZ1073, will now be interrogated by Saudi authorities. Flydubai stated that the underlying reasons and motives for the event remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation.
Flydubai should really review their cockpit security protocols. A single stabbed pilot shouldn’t leave the plane defenseless.
This is absolutely horrifying. How does someone snap like this mid-flight? I need answers, not just safety assurances.
How is he breathing? The descent data shows a near-vertical dive. What kept the plane from breaking apart mid-air?
Incredible bravery by those passengers. I would have been terrified, but they acted fast to save everyone on board.