Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that an Indian pilot stabbed his co-pilot on a flight bound for Israel, with the plane forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident, which involved a 17,000-foot descent and a cockpit breach, resulted in the survival of 174 passengers.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred two and a half hours into the flight, with the plane entering Saudi airspace and later landing in Tabuk. Netanyahu described the event as an attempted jihadist terror attack, with passengers and crew intervening to subdue the attacker.
Israeli officials are investigating whether the incident was an attempted terror attack, with the defense minister calling it a 'jihadist attack' and the foreign ministry noting the incident's implications for the Abraham Accords. Netanyahu praised the bravery of those who prevented a potential disaster, highlighting the survival of 174 people including Israeli citizens.
The incident has led to heightened security measures on Israeli and international flights, with Netanyahu urging increased security on both Israeli and non-Israeli carriers. The attacker, identified as an Omani national, is being questioned by Saudi authorities, while the motive behind the incident remains under investigation.