World·Middle East
Passengers and crew foil cockpit attack on Israel-bound Flydubai flight
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a cockpit stabbing in which one pilot apparently tried to crash the aircraft, the Associated Press and Fox News reported. Flight-tracking data cited by AP showed the jet dropped from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly a minute; passengers and crew subdued the alleged attacker, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani co-pilot, and reserve flydubai pilots landed the plane safely with more than 170 people aboard. Netanyahu praised Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who unlocked the cockpit door despite severe wounds, and Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun for intervening; flydubai suspended all Israel flights pending investigation and urged against premature speculation about motive.
- Associated PressNetanyahu says a pilot on a FlyDubai flight stabbed another and apparently tried to crash the plane
- Fox NewsNetanyahu calls FlyDubai cockpit attack a near-9/11 on Israel-bound flight
- The GuardianNetanyahu says too early to tell who was behind plane incident as flydubai halts all flights to Israel