Netanyahu: "Pilot Attempted to Crash Passenger Plane" ... Stabbed Colleague and Plunged 4.3 km

【Financial News, New York = Lee Byung-cheol, correspondent】  A knife attack between pilots occurred in the cockpit of a passenger plane bound for Israel. The aircraft plunged sharply before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that one pilot had attempted to crash the passenger plane, but the exact motive has not yet been confirmed.
According to flydubai and foreign media reports on the 30th local time, a confrontation occurred during the flight in the cockpit of flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tel Aviv in Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that one pilot appeared to have stabbed the other with a weapon and then attempted to crash the aircraft while it was carrying passengers. Passengers said that when a fight broke out in the cockpit, some of them intervened and pulled the attacker out.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 lost altitude rapidly at the time. According to data from flight-tracking company Flightradar24, the aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet (approximately 4.3 km) in less than 30 seconds. It then rapidly regained altitude, showing extreme fluctuations that would be unusual during a normal flight.
The aircraft subsequently transmitted a 'squawk 7700' signal, which indicates a general emergency. Seven minutes later, the signal changed to 'squawk 7500,' which is used in cases of unlawful interference threatening aircraft safety, such as a hijacking or hostage situation.
The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, western Saudi Arabia. flydubai stated that one of its employees who was on the flight landed the aircraft safely and that all passengers were confirmed safe. Saudi airport authorities said the captain and first officer were injured and transported to a hospital.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said the pilot who carried out the attack had been arrested by Saudi authorities. Saudi authorities are investigating the aircraft and questioning the crew and passengers to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
The motive for the incident, however, has not yet been confirmed. flydubai confirmed that an 'altercation' had occurred in the cockpit, but stated, "The underlying reason and motive for the incident are not known at this stage and must be determined through an official investigation."
The incident occurred as negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran remained deadlocked and tensions continued over the war in the Gaza Strip. The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, and flydubai is one of the few international airlines that continued operating flights to Tel Aviv even after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have official diplomatic relations. However, since air routes were opened between the UAE and Israel, there have been cases of Israel-bound aircraft making emergency landings in Saudi Arabia.




[email protected] Lee Byung-cheol, correspondent Reporter