A flydubai co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, prompting passengers and crew to storm the cockpit as the aircraft began to descend sharply.
Flight FZ1073 was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely at 9.45am local time. The airport operator said both pilots were injured and taken to hospital.
Passengers described scenes of panic as the aircraft lost altitude. Witnesses said several people forced their way into the cockpit and restrained the alleged attacker, allowing the plane to be stabilised.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken to a passenger who told him the aircraft had begun to plunge before he and a crew member entered the cockpit and subdued the pilot responsible for the stabbing.
Flydubai confirmed that an “incident” had occurred in the flight deck and said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. It said the cause and motive remained subject to investigation.
Saudi authorities provided assistance to passengers at the airport and were working with the airline to arrange onward travel to Israel. Investigators are continuing to establish exactly what happened inside the cockpit.
