Passenger says co-pilot attacked pilot on diverted flydubai flight

A passenger on an Israel-bound flydubai flight says the co-pilot attacked the pilot during the aircraft’s journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv, prompting passengers and crew members to intervene. Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon told reporters that the incident occurred over Jordan and that the aircraft was “pretty much out of control” during the stabbing. She said passengers overpowered and restrained the co-pilot.

Ohayon said the co-pilot had attempted to carry out what she described as a suicide attack on the aircraft. She added that a doctor provided first aid and that passengers treated both pilots. According to her account, the pilot was injured but no other passengers were hurt.

She said the principal fear among those on board had been that the aircraft would crash. A video circulated on Israeli social media showed a passenger with blood on his face and an open head wound asking for assistance. The passenger said those on board had subdued attackers and were preparing to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Ohayon’s mother, Yasmin Abukasis, said her daughter believed the passengers were going to die. She said her daughter had seen blood in the cockpit and that two other pilots took charge of the aircraft and diverted it to Saudi Arabia. Abukasis said her daughter had been travelling to attend a service for her brother, who was killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

The material supplied does not include statements from flydubai, Saudi authorities or Israeli aviation officials, and does not detail the condition of the pilot or co-pilot.