Passengers Describe Terror as Flydubai Pilot Allegedly Attempts to Crash Flight to Tel Aviv
Flydubai flight 1073 passengers recount a harrowing mid-air struggle after a pilot allegedly stabbed his colleague and attempted to crash the aircraft.
POLICY WIRE — Dubai, UAE — Passengers aboard Flydubai flight 1073 have detailed a harrowing experience during a Wednesday flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following an alleged hijacking attempt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that one pilot stabbed his colleague and attempted to bring down the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. In a video statement, Netanyahu praised the passengers who intervened to neutralize the pilot, preventing a potential catastrophe.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack. According to initial reports, the assailant’s primary objective was to crash the plane with all passengers on board.
Passenger Levi described the initial moments of the ordeal, noting that what they first perceived as severe turbulence quickly escalated into erratic, dangerous flight maneuvers. He recalled the plane turning sideways and moving violently in multiple directions for an extended period.
As panic spread, passengers in the cabin began shouting, and some individuals moved toward the front of the aircraft. Levi noted that while he could not see the cockpit struggle directly, he witnessed people covered in blood as the situation unfolded.
Netanyahu stated that he spoke with an Israeli passenger who helped break into the cockpit. Alongside other crew members, they managed to remove the attacker and stabilize the aircraft systems.
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Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon, who believed the stabbing occurred while the plane was over Jordan, described the aircraft as being out of control. She credited the resourcefulness of those on board for taking control of the co-pilot and preventing a suicide attack.
Another passenger told the Jerusalem Post that off-duty pilots on the flight were alerted to intervene. Once the attacker was removed from the cockpit, one of the off-duty pilots took control of the plane to ensure its safety.
Levi recounted that the cabin remained in a state of chaos for roughly 10 to 20 minutes before the flight stabilized. He expressed deep gratitude for the individuals who intervened, stating that they owed those heroes their lives.
According to Ohayon, a doctor on board provided medical assistance to the wounded pilot. Aside from the injured pilot, no other passengers sustained physical harm during the incident.
Netanyahu confirmed that the suspect was arrested by Saudi authorities for questioning. Meanwhile, Israeli officials are coordinating efforts to ensure the safe return of the passengers to Israel.
The flight eventually landed safely in Tel Aviv around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, where passengers were greeted with cheers upon disembarking. Despite the safe arrival, many passengers expressed lingering trauma and reluctance to board subsequent flights.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
