New details from the Flydubai incident on Wednesday reveal that the plane dove 14,000 feet in one minute after one of the pilots stabbed the other. Prime Minister Netanyahu said he instructed the defense establishment to prepare for threats, and the transportation minister is expected to demand a freeze of Flydubai flights. Saudi sources insisted no Israeli flight will be allowed to land on their soil. Flydubai urged caution against speculation, while US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the incident could have been catastrophic but all are safe.
New details from Wednesday's Flydubai flight incident reveal that the aircraft plummeted 14,000 feet in one minute after one of the pilots stabbed the other, according to i24NEWS. The development comes after earlier reports of an attempted hijacking on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Initial reports at 14:36 Jerusalem on Wednesday described a cockpit attack and passenger intervention. By 14:40, a passenger video confirmed that passengers subdued the hijacker and all aboard were safe except the pilot. At 15:39, reports indicated that Israeli intelligence and defense bodies—including the Shin Bet, Mossad, IDF, and Ministry of Transportation—opened a joint inquiry into the aviation security event. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who at 16:40 saluted the pilots' heroism as "heroes who showed resourcefulness and courage," subsequently said he instructed the defense establishment to prepare for potential threats. Transportation Minister Miri Regev is expected to demand a freeze of all Flydubai flights to Israel until the investigation concludes.
Saudi sources insisted that no Israeli military or civilian flight will be permitted to land on Saudi soil. Flydubai stated the case is under investigation and urged all parties to refrain from early speculation. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the incident could have ended in tragedy but noted that all passengers and crew are safe.
The condition of the injured pilot and the specific motive behind the stabbing remain unclear. Israeli and Dubai authorities are conducting separate investigations. As The Zioneer reported earlier, the joint inquiry is focusing on whether there were prior warnings and the composition of the flight crew, including a crew member from a country without diplomatic relations with Israel.
4 developments
- DevelopingSaudi, Jordanian fighter jets scrambled alongside IAF during Flydubai emergency, Israeli media reports
- Strong8-year-old on Flydubai flight says she thought plane would crash during rapid descent
- DevelopingN12 publishes cockpit footage from Flydubai flight, shows wounded pilot and passengers' arrest fears
- StrongItalian investigation reveals Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, shut down both engines over Saudi desert
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