Flydubai Co-Pilot Arrested After Alleged Attempt to Crash Plane

The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been arrested following an alleged attempt to crash the plane after stabbing the pilot. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the incident on Wednesday.

According to Netanyahu, passengers and on-duty Flydubai crew members, who were also on board the flight, assisted in subduing the co-pilot. These individuals reportedly broke into the cockpit and restrained the co-pilot, enabling other pilots to safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

"During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and, apparently, tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board," Netanyahu said in a video statement released by his office. He added that an Israeli passenger described the plane entering a spin and beginning to descend. The passenger further stated that he and a crew member managed to break into the cockpit and overpower the co-pilot who had committed the stabbing.

Netanyahu commended the passengers and crew involved, referring to them as "heroes" who displayed "extraordinary resourcefulness" and "saved many lives."

Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft was "successfully secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight" and reported that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. The airline stated that the underlying reasons and motives behind the event are unknown and are currently the subject of a formal investigation.

Saudi authorities are expected to interrogate the co-pilot of flight FZ1073.