Netanyahu alleges co-pilot tried to crash diverted Flydubai flight
The Israeli prime minister said passengers restrained the co-pilot after an alleged stabbing; the airline separately reported a flight-deck altercation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the aircraft. France 24 reported his account on Wednesday.
Netanyahu said passengers restrained the co-pilot and other pilots landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. The allegations have not been independently verified in the supplied material.
The flight, identified in background reporting as Flydubai FZ1073, sent emergency signals before landing at Tabuk airport. The date of that landing is not specified in the supplied material.
Flydubai said an altercation had occurred on the flight deck and that all passengers were safe and accounted for. Saudi airport officials said the captain and first officer were hospitalised with injuries.
The airline’s account did not detail the alleged stabbing or attempted crash. The supplied reports also contain conflicting accounts about who allegedly tried to crash the aircraft.
