Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Mid-Air Cockpit Stabbing, Officials Say
Officials say one pilot stabbed the other and appeared to try to crash the Tel Aviv-bound jet, which was carrying mostly Israeli passengers, before another crew member regained control. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia; the suspect's identity, exact injuries and motive remain unconfirmed.
Courtesy: Fox News, via X (Twitter)
Officials say one pilot stabbed the other aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, and that the suspect appeared to try to crash the aircraft, which was carrying mostly Israeli passengers. Another crew member ultimately stabilized the plane before it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
A passenger aboard the flight described the terrifying moments the plane suddenly plunged as the attack unfolded inside the cockpit, recounting the chaos as passengers realized something was seriously wrong and detailing the effort to reach the cockpit and regain control of the aircraft.
The flight has been identified by NBC News as Flydubai Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with roughly 180 passengers aboard, according to the Washington Post. A passenger told reporters they heard someone say "Someone is stabbing someone in the cockpit," an account also carried by NBC News.
