Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it is too early to determine if Iran was involved in an attack on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on Wednesday when a pilot stabbed another pilot in an attempt to take control of the aircraft, which subsequently plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) during the flight. Passengers and crew managed to subdue the attacker and safely land the plane.
The injured pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar from India, is currently hospitalized in stable condition. Netanyahu referred to him as a 'true hero' for his actions during the incident. One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, recounted how he placed the attacker in a chokehold, allowing others to assist in restraining him.
The alleged attacker was arrested in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where the flight originated. Netanyahu mentioned that there was no prior warning or intelligence regarding the incident, which involved 174 passengers.
The flight, designated FZ1073, took off from Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT (07:05 local time) and experienced a significant drop in altitude two hours into the journey. The aircraft signaled an emergency code before descending for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz characterized the event as an 'attempted jihadist terror attack,' although further details were not provided. U.S. President Donald Trump commented that the attacker might be a terrorist or have other motives.
Passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv, where they were met with a supportive crowd. Flydubai confirmed that the crew on board successfully managed the situation and landed the aircraft safely. All flights to and from Israel will be suspended during the ongoing investigation, according to a Flydubai spokesperson.