What happened
A flydubai plane headed for Tel Aviv was the scene of a attempted terrorist attack when a copilot stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the plane.
According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the suspect, reportedly of Omani descent, had one intention: to crash the plane with all its passengers. The plane was carrying 174 people, including 27 children.
The attack occurred about two and a half hours into the flight, while the jet was cruising at 33,000 feet. The plane then dropped in altitude to just 15,400 feet in under two minutes.
Brave passengers, including two off-duty pilots, subdued the attacker and helped to stabilize the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the suspect was arrested and the wounded pilot was treated.
Israeli officials have launched a terrorism investigation into the incident, which they believe was a jihadist terrorist attack attempt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage, saying they saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.
