What happened
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a violent altercation occurred in the cockpit. The co-pilot, who is of Omani descent, allegedly stabbed the captain, prompting concerns of a hijacking incident. The cabin crew intervened and took control of the plane, which was carrying 174 people.
According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot intended to crash the plane in a jihadist terrorist attack. The suspect has been arrested and is being investigated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that passengers broke into the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot, preventing a potential disaster.
The plane plunged roughly 17,000 feet in one minute before the additional flight crew on board managed to stabilize the aircraft. The passengers are now safely in Saudi Arabia, awaiting arrangements to return to Israel. The incident is being investigated, with Israeli officials looking into whether the suspect held dual citizenship.
