Israel’s defence minister labels flydubai cockpit incident attempted terror attack

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has called an incident aboard a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai plane an attempted jihadist terror attack. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a reported fight between the pilots. Katz said several Israeli passengers entered the cockpit, overpowered the pilot and helped return control of the aircraft to another member of the flight crew.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other as the aircraft approached Israel. He said the pilot then apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board. Netanyahu said he had spoken to an Israeli passenger who entered the cockpit as the aircraft began to descend and fought the pilot.

Another crew member subsequently entered the cockpit and stabilised the aircraft, according to the Prime Minister. Both Israeli leaders praised the passengers and crew member involved. Netanyahu described them as courageous and said they had prevented a major disaster.

Katz did not identify the source for his claim that the incident was motivated by jihadism. The identity of the pilot has not been released in the supplied material. The Prime Minister said the pilot accused of trying to crash the plane had been arrested and was being interrogated by Saudi authorities.

The source does not give details about the other pilot’s condition, the number of passengers or the airline’s response. The incident followed a warning from Netanyahu about potential attacks before Israel’s October 27 election. Opposition leader Yair Lapid had criticised that warning as fear-mongering, according to the supplied report.

Katz said security warnings should be taken seriously.