A Flydubai passenger narrates: The co-pilot stabbed the plane's captain

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

After the incident of the Flydubai plane, which was heading towards Tel Aviv before changing its course and making an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport, went well, one of the passengers narrated the details of what she saw.

Passenger Miriam Shira Ohion claimed on Wednesday that “the co-pilot stabbed the captain of the plane and tried to shoot it down.”

She also added that she felt that the plane was "almost out of control" when the stabbing incident occurred over Jordan, during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. She explained in statements to reporters via loudspeaker on her mother’s phone, who was waiting for her at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, that “the co-pilot tried to kill the pilot.”

But she added, "The quick wits of many people led them to control the co-pilot and paralyze him," according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse. She continued, "There was a doctor who provided first aid, and people treated both of them. There were no injuries other than the pilot."

For her part, the mother of the passenger, Yasmine Abukasis, explained that her daughter was on the flight to attend the memorial service for her brother, who was killed in a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Abukasis said, “A woman who was with three children went to the cockpit and saw a lot of blood.” She indicated that there were two other pilots on board the plane who took command and changed its course.

In turn, passenger Almog Itali told Agence France-Presse that the passengers felt as if they were facing "very strong air turbulence, even though there were no air turbulences," describing the sensation resulting from losing thousands of feet of altitude within seconds as being like riding the "Death Train" game.

These testimonies came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that one of the two pilots of the Fly Dubai flight tried to shoot down the plane and stabbed the other pilot, as he claimed.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz also considered the incident an "attempted terrorist attack."

While Flydubai explained earlier today that Flight 1073 heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv suffered an accident during its flight, and landed in Tabuk safely.

It also indicated in a later statement that an altercation took place in the cockpit of Flight FZ 1073 heading to Ben Gurion Airport. She added that it is too early to know the reasons, pointing out that the motives behind this incident are unknown and are subject to an official investigation.

The company called on everyone to stop speculating about what happened on the plane until the investigation is completed. She indicated that all passengers were transferred on another plane belonging to the company from Tabuk to Tel Aviv.

For its part, Tabuk Airport announced that it had received a distress call from the plane to make an emergency landing and declared a state of emergency and preparedness as soon as it received the distress call.

He also pointed out that the captain of the Flydubai plane and his co-pilot were injured on the flight that made an emergency landing. Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk explained that the plane landed at 6:45 GMT, and it was found that both the plane’s captain and the co-pilot were injured, and they were taken to the hospital, providing the necessary care for the passengers and coordinating with the air carrier (Flydubai) to secure an alternative plane to take them to their destination.

The Saudi airport later indicated that all passengers left at 5:40 pm to their destination.

He also clarified that Saudi civil aviation regulations were adhered to in accordance with international treaties and agreements.

While security sources reported that Saudi Arabia rejected an Israeli request to allow its planes to transport Israeli passengers, according to Reuters.

It is noteworthy that such incidents on board Emirati aircraft rarely occur, as Flydubai has never recorded similar incidents.