Passenger on Flydubai flight told family: 'This was terrorism, not a dispute'

A passenger on a Flydubai flight to Ben Gurion Airport that diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia told her family in messages seen by mako that 'Israelis took control of the flight.' In the afternoon, Prime Minister Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed his colleague and apparently attempted to crash the plane on its occupants.

In messages she sent from aboard the aircraft to relatives in Israel, the passenger wrote: 'I need Israel to know we're here and that this was terrorism, not a dispute,' and recounted the moment of loss of control: 'The plane began to flip and descend and then someone shouted there were stabbings.' A passenger named Miriam told i24NEWS that after the cockpit door was opened 'we saw quantities of blood, and someone stabbed the pilot with an awl,' and according to her 'Israelis neutralized the stabber together with crew members who were there.' She added that 'we felt we were about to crash,' and said she cried out 'Hear O Israel.'

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the stabbing pilot 'was arrested and is being interrogated at this time by Saudi authorities,' and recounted speaking with an Israeli passenger who forced his way into the cockpit with a crew member, and added: 'I salute these heroes who showed resourcefulness and exceptional courage.' Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident 'a jihadist terror attack attempt that was thwarted only thanks to the heroism of several Israeli passengers who forced their way into the cockpit,' and according to ynet, assessment in Israel is hardening that this was a terrorism event and that the suspect pilot's intent was to crash the plane to kill Israelis, though an earlier report said the possibility he sought to end his own life was also being investigated. Flydubai said in a further statement that a confrontation occurred in the cockpit and that crew members of the company flying on the flight secured the aircraft and landed it, and emphasized that the motives for the incident remain unknown and are subject to an official investigation.

According to reports, the aircraft, carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, departed Dubai at 6:05 Israel time, and at 8:31, upon entering Jordanian airspace, broadcast emergency code 7700 and seven minutes later code 7500, indicating aircraft hijacking. The aircraft turned back and returned to Saudi skies, Flightradar24 data showed it descended in a short time from an altitude of about 34,000 feet to about 14,000 feet, and at 9:45 landed safely at Tabuk Airport. According to Tabuk Airport's statement, the captain and first officer were injured and transferred for medical treatment, and Netanyahu said all passengers were out of danger.

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz convened an urgent security consultation, fighter jets were scrambled and according to IDF spokesman the chief of staff held a situation assessment with the air force commander, head of military intelligence and head of intelligence, and contrary to social media rumors, Israel's airspace was not closed. According to ynet, Saudi Arabia did not approve Israeli aircraft arriving to evacuate the passengers, and the return home was delayed until Mossad completed vetting of Flydubai's backup crew. The company's rescue aircraft departed Tabuk around 5:30 p.m. and landed in the evening at Ben Gurion with all 174 passengers, and according to ynet paramedic teams checked them and a 51-year-old passenger was transferred to a hospital in light condition with an injury to his upper body, and according to a decision by police and Shin Bet, Shin Bet agents will interrogate the Israeli passengers.