Tabuk — attack aboard a Flydubai flight, passengers neutralize the co-pilot

TEL AVIV, September 30 /ATSH – ANSA/ – A serious incident was recorded today aboard Flydubai flight FZ1071, where a co-pilot, armed with a knife, allegedly attacked the aircraft’s captain and tried to cause the plane to crash.

According to preliminary reconstructions, the situation was neutralized thanks to the intervention of several passengers and off-duty pilots who were on board.

They managed to immobilize and tie up the suspect, before handing him over to the Saudi authorities after the plane’s safe landing at Tabuk airport.

The incident has caused great concern in Israel, where the authorities have treated the event as a possible terrorist threat.

According to sources cited by Channel 12, the Israeli authorities currently have no information that the attacker was directed by Iran or by any other structured organization.

The preliminary suspicion is that he may have acted alone.

According to the published information, the suspect is an Omani citizen and allegedly also held another citizenship, which would have enabled him to be part of the crew of an airline for which Israel imposes restrictions regarding the nationality of crew members.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the event as an attempted jihadist attack and said the tragedy had been averted thanks to the intervention of the passengers and a reserve pilot.

According to him, from the preliminary information, the suspect’s aim was to cause the plane to crash with all the passengers on board.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his appreciation for the people who intervened on the plane and stated that he had instructed the security structures to prepare for any possible further threat.