Pilot tried to hijack Flydubai plane? Terror attack not ruled out

The Flydubai aircraft was travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred. None of the 180 passengers on board were reported to have been injured.

Passengers and their relatives told Hebrew-language media that the flight appeared to go out of control after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, according to The Times of Israel.

Witnesses told the newspaper that a group of Israeli passengers managed to enter the cockpit, subdue the alleged attacker and help stabilise the aircraft.

The plane subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Authorities in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not publicly commented on the incident.

According to reports, the captain is an Emirati citizen, while the co-pilot is from Oman. One passenger told The Times of Israel that the captain was “seriously wounded” and was taken for medical treatment after the aircraft landed.

Emergency signals trigger security response

Flight-tracking data showed that the Flydubai aircraft transmitted the international emergency code 7700 shortly before 9:30 a.m., according to The Times of Israel.

The aircraft later reportedly transmitted a code indicating a possible hijacking or unlawful interference.

The signals prompted Israeli authorities to scramble fighter jets towards the aircraft, according to security sources cited by the newspaper.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz also reportedly held an emergency consultation following the incident.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on X: “Following concerns over an aviation incident, Prime Minister Netanyahu held consultations on the matter and is monitoring developments.”

“The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel,” the statement added.

Reports also said the aircraft descended approximately 17,000 feet (5,200 metres) within two minutes during the emergency.

Israel’s Mossad, Shin Bet and Israel Defense Forces have reportedly launched an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, an Israeli official told CNN that authorities were considering sending either a military or civilian aircraft to bring the passengers back to Israel.

Questions over Omani co-pilot

Investigators are also examining how an Omani pilot was cleared to operate a flight carrying Israeli passengers.

One of the key questions reportedly being examined is why the crew included a pilot from a country that does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the official told CNN.

An Israeli official said the Omani national was the co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain.

Oman and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations.

A video circulating online also showed passengers applauding and celebrating after the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

Who operates Flydubai?

Flydubai is a government-owned Emirati airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The airline primarily operates from Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, although some flights also operate from Terminal 3.

Flydubai serves destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe from its Dubai base.