What happened
A recent attempted terrorist hijacking of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was thwarted by the Indian pilot and a group of heroic Israeli passengers. The co-pilot, who was Omani, allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to destroy the plane's equipment to crash it into an Israeli target.
The Indian pilot managed to open the cockpit door and alert others on the plane, and a group of Israeli passengers, including a plumber who had knowledge of aircraft operations, subdued the co-pilot and stabilized the plane. An Israeli medical professional also provided critical care to the injured pilot.
The plane, which had entered a tailspin and suffered damage to its rudder, was eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudis refused to allow Israeli air force or commercial aircraft to land and retrieve the passengers, stranding them in the country.
The incident occurred just days after an attempted Iranian-backed attack on an air force base in Great Britain, raising questions about the motivations and goals of the perpetrators. The attack has been characterized as a miracle that averted a potential tragedy and international crisis.
