What happened
An Israel-bound flight from Dubai experienced a violent incident when one of the pilots was stabbed by another pilot, who then attempted to take control of the plane. The Flydubai plane, carrying 174 people, dropped over 17,000 feet before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
The stabbed pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, is in stable condition and has been praised as a hero by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian leader Narendra Modi. The alleged attacker is being investigated in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates.
Passengers described how they restrained the attacker, with one passenger, Yaniv Hayun, putting the attacker in a chokehold before others helped pin him down. The passengers and crew were able to regain control of the plane and land it safely.
The incident is being investigated, with the UAE's chief prosecutor launching an investigation into the incident, including possible links to terrorist activity. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack, while US President Donald Trump said the attacker may have been a terrorist or had other motivations.
The airline, Flydubai, has suspended all flights to and from Israel during the investigation, citing the need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew.
