Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a pilot stabbed his co-pilot on a flight bound for Israel, with the plane descending rapidly and forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident involved a physical altercation in the cockpit, leading to a security alert and a potential terror attack on Israelis.
Netanyahu identified the stabbed pilot as Indian national Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door to allow passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. The flight, operated by flydubai, was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred, with 170 passengers on board. The plane descended 17,000 feet in two minutes before landing safely in Saudi Arabia.
The incident has prompted an investigation into whether the attack was an attempted terror attack, with Israeli officials describing it as a 'different incident' but noting the potential risks on the Israel-UAE route. The flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a physical altercation between pilots, with both pilots injured and the plane landing safely.
Israeli officials have not confirmed the attacker's nationality, with one source anonymously stating the attacker was an Omani national. The incident has raised concerns about security on the Israel-UAE route, which has become popular since the normalization of relations in 2020.