Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the dramatic incident aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack that was thwarted by Israeli passengers who stormed the cockpit and overpowered the alleged attacker.
“The serious incident aboard the FlyDubai aircraft was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack, which was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, overpowered the terrorist, and with their own hands returned control of the aircraft to an additional flight crew that was present there,” Katz said.
“According to the preliminary information in our possession, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the aircraft with all its passengers aboard,” Katz added.
Katz’s account represents the latest and most serious assessment by Israeli officials of the incident, which unfolded Wednesday aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 traveling from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport. Flydubai has confirmed only that the aircraft experienced an “incident” en route and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all passengers accounted for.
The precise circumstances remain under investigation, though several passengers have released videos detailing the dramatic and bloody encounter.
According to preliminary Israeli accounts, an Omani co-pilot attacked the Emirati captain with a knife before attempting to take control of the aircraft. The plane subsequently plunged thousands of feet and transmitted emergency signals, including code 7500, the international transponder code indicating unlawful interference. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities feared the aircraft had been hijacked.
The aircraft was carrying roughly 174 to 180 people when the incident occurred, according to varying reports. Flight-tracking data showed the plane rapidly descending from cruising altitude before turning toward Saudi Arabia and ultimately landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk.
Early reports described the incident as a physical confrontation between the pilots, but passenger accounts and subsequent security assessments pointed to a terror attack scenario.
According to passenger testimony cited by Israeli media, the co-pilot pulled a pocketknife and repeatedly stabbed the captain before allegedly attempting to take control of the aircraft. One Israeli official described the alleged action to Channel 12 as an attempt to “do 9/11.”
As the aircraft descended, passengers and crew members reportedly forced their way into the cockpit and subdued the attacker. Two off-duty pilots traveling as passengers were also reportedly involved in helping regain control of the aircraft.
“We just jumped in and pulled him out of the cockpit,” one bloodied passenger said in a video recorded aboard the plane.
Other footage circulating on social media showed blood inside the aircraft and passengers describing an attack in the cockpit.
The plane ultimately landed safely in Tabuk, where Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft. The passengers remained aboard while authorities investigated the incident and arrangements were made to return them to Israel. Flydubai said its teams were working with the relevant authorities.
The incident prompted an emergency security response in Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz holding consultations as Israeli fighter jets were scrambled. Israeli officials initially treated the aircraft as a potential hijacking before more information emerged about the confrontation aboard the plane.
Katz used the incident to defend recent Israeli security warnings, saying that when he and Netanyahu issue alerts based on intelligence, “everyone would do well — including our enemies abroad and out-of-date former officials at home — to listen and take them seriously.”
“Every warning has multiple intended audiences and purposes,” Katz said. “Most importantly, the warnings never come at the expense of the proactive and offensive operations we are leading together with the IDF against every threat — and they are no substitute for them.”
In a statement, Netanyahu said the incident is under control and “all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel.”
.png)
.png)
