Flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Israel following an incident where a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash a flight bound for Tel Aviv. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, with passengers and crew overpowering the co-pilot. All passengers arrived safely in Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft.
The incident raises significant security concerns for air travel, particularly on routes to and from Israel, and has led to a temporary halt in operations for a major Middle Eastern airline, impacting regional connectivity and potentially travel costs.
Flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Israel after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash a flight bound for Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on Wednesday as the plane, flight FZ1073, was approaching Israel.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passengers and on-duty crew members helped overpower the co-pilot after he stabbed the pilot, identified as Capt. Smit Machchhar. Netanyahu stated that Machchhar, despite being seriously injured, fought back, opened the cockpit door, and enabled the intervention, preventing a "catastrophic mid-air disaster" and saving the lives of the 174 people on board.
The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where both pilots were hospitalized. Flydubai confirmed that the situation was secured by on-duty crew traveling on the flight and that all passengers and crew were safe.
Flydubai stated that the temporary suspension of flights will allow authorities to investigate the incident. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority also announced it is investigating the operational and security aspects of the event. Passengers later boarded a replacement aircraft and arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night.
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