Attempted hijacking alert: pilot stabs another mid-flight, forcing a FlyDubai plane to divert to Saudi Arabia
The aircraft was operating the route between Dubai and Tel Aviv and was carrying more than 150 people
This Wednesday, September 30, an incident occurred mid-flight on FlyDubai when one of its planes, which was operating the route between Dubai and Tel Aviv , had to be diverted and finally landed in Saudi Arabia after an altercation broke out between crew members.
Israeli authorities have confirmed to EFE that the incident took place during the flight and that security agencies are handling what happened. At first, the activation of an emergency signal and the aircraft's movements raised fears that it could be a hijacking , although authorities later pointed to a confrontation between the pilots.
According to reports circulated by Israeli media, one of the pilots allegedly attacked the other with a bladed weapon during the flight. These details are still part of the investigation and have not been officially confirmed in all their aspects.
The aircraft's tracking data also show a very steep descent during the journey. The plane lost several thousand meters of altitude within minutes before activating the emergency signal, a maneuver that helped raise the alarm about what was happening on board.
The plane finally landed in Saudi Arabia
The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia and ended up landing at Tabuk airport. The situation also triggered a response from the Israeli authorities, who even deployed fighter jets amid the possibility that it was an in-flight emergency.
Israeli airspace was temporarily closed while the incident was being handled and was later reopened once the plane had landed in Saudi territory.
Israeli authorities have indicated that the situation is under control and that the necessary measures are being taken to ensure the passengers' return to Israel.
The company FlyDubai plans to send another plane to the Saudi airport to transport back to Tel Aviv the passengers who were traveling on the affected aircraft.
The investigation seeks to clarify what happened in the cockpit
The initial data indicate that the origin of the emergency was a confrontation between crew members, although the exact circumstances of the incident still remain to be determined.
A passenger quoted by Israeli media said they had heard screams and seen a violent situation inside the plane. Images have also circulated on social media showing people with blood stains , although the origin of those images and the specific circumstances in which they were taken are still being investigated.
Among the hypotheses being considered is the possibility that one of the pilots may have tried to take control of the plane with the intention of causing an accident . According to this version, the other pilot would have intervened to prevent it. However, this hypothesis has not been officially confirmed and is part of the lines of inquiry currently being investigated.
The flight was carrying more than 150 people and, for the time being, the Israeli authorities have stated that they are working to ensure that the passengers can return to Israel safely. The priority now is to determine what happened inside the plane and why the emergency situation occurred that forced it to change its route.
