Israel Says Flydubai Cockpit Attack Was Attempted Jihadist Terror Plot to Crash Plane

Defense Minister Israel Katz says attacker intended to crash Israel-bound jet as investigators examine dramatic cockpit stabbing and emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday described the violent cockpit incident aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv as an “attempted jihadist terrorist attack,” as authorities investigate an extraordinary midair emergency in which one pilot allegedly stabbed another before the aircraft rapidly lost thousands of feet in altitude.

Katz said preliminary information indicated that the alleged attacker intended to bring down the passenger aircraft with everyone aboard.

“The terrorist had one intention: to crash the aircraft with everyone on board,” Katz said.

Israeli officials credited passengers and crew members with intervening during the crisis and helping prevent what they say could have become a mass-casualty aviation disaster.

The terrorism characterization comes from Israeli officials. Flydubai has said the motive behind the cockpit confrontation remains under investigation.

Netanyahu: Pilot Stabbed During Cockpit Crisis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and then apparently attempted to bring down the aircraft.

According to Netanyahu, a passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the alleged attacker, while another qualified crew member helped regain control of the jet.

Netanyahu praised those who intervened, crediting their actions with helping save the passengers and crew.

The Flydubai aircraft was operating Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the emergency unfolded.

Israeli officials said the majority of passengers aboard the flight were Israeli.

The suspected attacker was identified in reports citing Israeli officials as the co-pilot. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and whether the incident was planned.

Aircraft Plunges Thousands of Feet

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft experiencing a dramatic loss of altitude during the emergency.

The jet descended from approximately 33,000 feet to around 17,000 feet in roughly one minute before eventually diverting toward Saudi Arabia.

The aircraft also transmitted emergency signals during the incident, including a code associated with unlawful interference aboard an aircraft.

That signal immediately raised fears of a possible hijacking or other hostile action.

Israel scrambled military aircraft as authorities attempted to establish what was happening aboard the passenger jet. The Israeli fighters later turned back as the situation aboard the aircraft came under control.

For passengers, the sudden descent transformed what had been a routine flight from Dubai to Israel into a terrifying emergency.

Video from aboard the aircraft showed injured individuals receiving assistance while others remained near the cockpit area.

Passengers and Crew Intervene

Israeli officials have emphasized the actions of passengers and crew members who intervened during the cockpit confrontation.

According to Netanyahu's account, a passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit and helped overpower the alleged attacker while another qualified crew member worked to stabilize the aircraft.

Katz said those actions prevented the alleged attacker from accomplishing his objective.

The intervention is particularly significant because the suspected threat, according to Israeli officials, originated inside the cockpit rather than from a passenger attempting to gain access to it.

That circumstance is expected to become a central part of the investigation.

Authorities will likely examine how the confrontation began, how a weapon allegedly entered the cockpit and what occurred during the aircraft's sudden loss of altitude.

Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia

After control of the aircraft was restored, the flight diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The aircraft landed safely.

Both pilots reportedly received medical treatment following the incident. No passenger fatalities were reported.

The diversion also created an unusual diplomatic situation because the aircraft was carrying a large number of Israelis into Saudi Arabia, which does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

Saudi authorities nevertheless responded to the aviation emergency, and arrangements were subsequently made for the passengers to continue their journey.

Flydubai Says Motive Remains Under Investigation

Flydubai confirmed that an altercation occurred on the flight deck and said crew members traveling aboard the aircraft helped secure the situation before the emergency diversion.

The Dubai-based airline has not, however, publicly adopted Israel's conclusion that the incident was terrorism.

Flydubai said the underlying reasons and motives behind the incident remained unknown pending a formal investigation and urged against premature conclusions.

That distinction remains important as authorities work to establish exactly what happened.

Israel's defense minister is describing the episode as an attempted jihadist terrorist attack, while the airline has said investigators have not yet established the motive.

Major Aviation Security Questions

The incident is expected to trigger serious scrutiny of aviation security procedures.

If investigators substantiate the Israeli account, the alleged threat would represent a particularly troubling scenario: an individual authorized to operate the aircraft allegedly attempting to use his position inside the secured cockpit to bring down a commercial passenger jet.

Investigators will need to determine whether the alleged attacker acted alone, what motivated him and whether there were any warning signs before the flight departed Dubai.

Authorities are also expected to examine the sequence of events surrounding the rapid descent and exactly how control of the aircraft was restored.

For the passengers aboard Flight FZ1073, however, the most important fact is that the aircraft reached the ground safely.

A violent cockpit confrontation allegedly involving a stabbing was followed by a dramatic plunge, emergency signals and a diversion to Saudi Arabia.

Israeli officials say the intervention of passengers and crew prevented a terrorist catastrophe.

The investigation will now determine whether the evidence supports that assessment and establish precisely what happened aboard the Israel-bound Flydubai flight.