Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that a co-pilot aboard a diverted Flydubai flight has been arrested after allegedly stabbing the other pilot and nearly causing the aircraft to crash. The incident, which occurred as the flight approached Israeli airspace, has been described by Israeli officials as a severe security threat.
“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board,” Netanyahu said, according to an unofficial translation of his remarks. “Additional flight crew on board entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the aircraft.”
The aircraft, Flydubai flight FZ1073, was en route to Tel Aviv when the altercation broke out. The plane was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after the pilot and other crew members sent out a distress signal as they were injured. Netanyahu confirmed that all passengers were safe, but the incident has raised alarms about aviation security and potential hijacking attempts.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir characterized the alleged attempted hijacking on social media as the work of a “terrorist.” Netanyahu described the situation as a highly severe security incident, and he has instructed Israeli security agencies to prepare for additional potential threats in both Israel and Saudi Arabia.
According to Netanyahu, one of the more than 150 passengers aboard described the harrowing moments when the plane temporarily entered free fall. Flight tracking data from Flight Radar shows the aircraft dropped 14,000 feet in under a minute, a rapid descent that likely caused damage to the plane’s rudder, according to photos provided by The Times of Israel.
“[The passenger] told me that, somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit together with one of the crew members, and that together they neutralized the pilot who carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems,” Netanyahu continued.
Netanyahu confirmed that the co-pilot is being interrogated by Saudi Arabian authorities, and Israel has requested to participate in the investigation. The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, and Israeli officials are treating it as a potential act of terrorism. This episode echoes other recent security incidents involving Israeli-linked flights, such as the arrests at a UN protest against Netanyahu, highlighting the volatile security environment.
The rapid response by the flight crew and passengers averted a potential catastrophe, but the incident has prompted calls for a thorough review of cockpit security protocols. Aviation experts are examining how a pilot could bring a weapon aboard a commercial aircraft, raising questions about existing screening measures.
As Saudi authorities continue their investigation, the international community is watching closely. The incident underscores the ongoing threats faced by civil aviation, particularly in regions where political tensions are high. For more on regional security dynamics, see our coverage of Ecuador's cartel crackdown and its potential non-NATO ally status, which reflects broader security cooperation trends.
Israeli officials have not yet released the identity of the co-pilot or the full details of the investigation, but they have assured the public that all passengers are safe. The airline has not issued a statement, but the incident is expected to have diplomatic repercussions between Israel and Saudi Arabia, who have been in talks over normalization.
