What to know about Flydubai cockpit clash as pilot is arrested

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday a co-pilot aboard a diverted Flydubai flight has been arrested after he allegedly stabbed the other pilot and nearly caused the plane to crash.

“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board,” Netanyahu said Wednesday, according to an unofficial translation of his remarks. “Additional flight crew on board entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the aircraft.”

Flydubai FZ1073 was planned to head to Tel Aviv, Israel, but it was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after the pilot and other personnel sent out a distress signal as they were injured in the altercation aboard.

Netanyahu described the situation as a highly severe security incident, while Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir characterized the alleged attempted hijacking on social media as the work of a “terrorist.”

What are passengers on the plane saying?

The Israeli prime minister said “all passengers are out of danger” and described one meeting he had with one of the more than 150 passengers who were aboard. The passenger detailed to Netanyahu how the plane descended temporarily into free fall.

The plane dropped 14,000 feet in under a minute, according to an altitude path by Flight Radar .

“[The passenger] told me that, somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit together with one of the crew members, and that together they neutralized the pilot who carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems,” Netanyahu continued.

What happened after the flight landed in Saudi Arabia?

Netanyahu confirmed the co-pilot was being interrogated by Saudi Arabian authorities and he has “instructed the security establishment to prepare for additional potential threats” in Israel and Saudi Arabia.

An initial inspection of the plane appears to show damage sustained to its rudder, likely caused by the rapid descent the flight took, according to photos provided by The Times of Israel .

Netanyahu added Saudi Arabian local officials are still investigating the incident, and Israel has requested its officials take part as well.