Israel-bound plane lands in Saudi Arabia after pilot allegedly tries to crash it
An Israel-bound flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after its co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane.
The Flydubai flight was travelling from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport with 180 passengers on board, most of them Israeli.
About an hour before its scheduled arrival, the plane began a steep descent, dropping from 34,000 feet (10,363 metres) to 16,000 feet (4876.8 metres) in less than two minutes.
It eventually landed safely in Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The company that operates Tabuk airport said both the captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital.
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Israeli media later cited witnesses as saying that the co-pilot stabbed the captain, attempted to hijack the plane and tried to crash it.
Passengers reportedly broke into the cockpit, intervened to stop the descent and regained control of the plane.
Images released from the flight appeared to show one pilot restrained and the other covered in blood.
Israeli media reported that authorities were treating the incident as a suspected “terror attack”, alleging that the co-pilot was of Omani origin.
Middle East Eye could not independently verify the reports.
There is no indication at this stage that the incident was directed by any organisation or state, according to Israeli media.
A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that a “severe disaster was prevented”.
Israeli investigation
The initial distress call prompted Israeli leaders to hold emergency security meetings and scramble fighter jets in response to the possible hijacking.
Israeli media reported that Mossad and other security agencies were involved in the investigation, as authorities worked to bring the stranded Israeli passengers home from Tabuk.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should intensify its military actions across the region, including in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
“Israel’s security doctrine must be taken to the next level,” he said.
“The naive belief that our enemies cherish life and should be shown mercy received another reminder this morning,” he added.
“Terrorism is an evil with which no agreement should be reached other than defeating it and wiping it off the face of the earth.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that anyone who tried to bring down a plane should be treated “as though they had murdered” those on board.
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