Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after pilot stabs co-pilot

A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after one pilot allegedly stabbed his co-pilot mid-flight. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker appeared to attempt to crash the aircraft before being subdued by a passenger and a crew member.

Key details

• •According to the BBC, the flight dropped more than 17,000 feet in less than two minutes, and flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the plane signaled a hijacking code after the incident.
• •The injured pilot, identified by the BBC as Capt. Smit Machchhar, is in stable condition and was praised by Netanyahu for potentially saving 174 lives.
• •The Guardian reported that the flight was carrying approximately 150 passengers and noted that images appeared to show damage to the aircraft's tail.
• •Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz characterized the event as an "attempted jihadist terror attack," though the BBC notes that police and official investigators have not yet released statements regarding a motive.
• •The attacker was arrested and is currently being questioned by Saudi authorities, as reported by the BBC.

Background

Flydubai flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT on Wednesday, scheduled for Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel. The flight was carrying at least 150 people, with Netanyahu noting that almost all passengers were Israeli citizens.

Why it matters

The incident prompted an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft touched down at 06:58. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the cockpit struggle, with Israeli officials confirming they are looking into the pilot's actions.