Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that evidence indicates that the flydubai pilot who stabbed his fellow pilot intended to crash the plane.
“This morning there was an extremely serious security incident,” says Netanyahu in a video statement from his office, his first public response to the emergency landing.
“Almost all of the passengers on the flight were Israelis,” he continues.
As the plane drew close to Israel, says Netanyahu, one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently tried to crash the plane with its passengers.
He says that an Israeli passenger with whom he spoke, along with one of the crew members, managed to break into the cockpit and stop the pilot as he was attempting to damage the plane’s systems.
Another crew member then entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the plane, says Netanyahu.
“We are in continuous contact with the relevant authorities to guarantee the continued safety of the passengers and their safe return home,” says Netanyahu, adding that Israel is also carrying out regular situational assessments.
The Saudis are interrogating the suspect, he says.
He says that he instructed Israel’s security services to take measures to prevent similar attempts in the future.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
