Pilot Stabbed, Passengers Subdue Attacker on Flight to Tel Aviv
Crew and passengers overpowered a co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to seize control of a Flydubai flight, averting what Israeli officials suspect was a planned crash.
Passengers and a seriously injured pilot averted a potential disaster on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after overpowering an attacker in the cockpit. The incident, which saw the plane diverted to Saudi Arabia, is being investigated by Israeli authorities as a possible attempt to crash the aircraft into a target within Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the flight captain, identified as Smit Machchhar, for his bravery. "Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the flight-deck door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster," Netanyahu stated. He added that the captain "saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals."
Authorities in Israel believe the co-pilot intended to seize control of the aircraft and crash it, potentially targeting a skyscraper. An Israeli security source described the incident as a "9/11 scenario where the co-pilot kills the pilot and crashes the plane inside of Israel with all the passengers, mostly Israelis."
The Boeing 737 experienced a significant altitude loss, reportedly dropping 14,000 feet in 30 seconds, before passengers intervened. Reports indicate that off-duty pilots aboard the flight may have assisted in regaining control. One passenger recounted helping to pull back on the controls after the attacker was subdued, drawing a parallel to scenes from the documentary series "Air Crash Investigation."
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic and confusion, with some passengers reporting hearing shouting from the cockpit and seeing blood. Passengers described wrestling the knifeman to the floor and restraining him with zip ties and headphones.
Following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, passengers were transferred to another flight to Tel Aviv. Medical personnel assessed passengers upon arrival, with some sustaining minor injuries during the struggle. One passenger required hospital treatment for a wrist injury.
Flydubai has stated that the reasons for the altercation remain unknown and urged against premature speculation. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the incident was an "attempted jihadist terror attack" with the sole intention of crashing the plane. In response, Netanyahu ordered an increase in security measures for both Israeli and non-Israeli airlines.