Israeli estimates: The co-pilot of the “Fly Dubai” flight tried to shoot down the plane

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - There are security estimates in Israel that the co-pilot on the “Fly Dubai” flight may have tried to hijack the plane and shoot it down while it was on its way from Dubai to Tel Aviv, before it landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The official broadcasting authority quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying: “An attempt by one of the pilots to hijack the plane, crash it, and have the other pilot take control of it, is a possibility that has not yet been ruled out.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Flydubai plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, after sending the emergency code 7700, which indicates a general emergency.

But later, data appeared in some tracking systems indicating the use of the 7500 code, which indicates “unlawful interference,” but this information has not yet received official confirmation, according to the authority.

It quoted Israeli passengers on board the plane as saying that it was forced to land in Saudi Arabia following a fight between the pilots.

In turn, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said: “In the Israeli aviation sector, they estimate that the possibility of a security incident occurring on board the flight, which was heading to Ben Gurion Airport (near Tel Aviv), has not yet been ruled out.”

She continued: "Initial estimates indicate that one of the pilots attempted to cause the plane to crash, but the other pilot succeeded in thwarting the attempt with the help of Israeli passengers."

According to the newspaper, the pilot suspected of trying to shoot down the plane “is of Omani origin, and the second pilot is Emirati.”

Israeli Channel 12 had previously said that the plane's crew consisted of a Russian pilot and a Ukrainian assistant.

Since February 2022, a war has continued between neighboring Russia and Ukraine, supported by Western countries, especially the United States.

Israeli Army Radio also quoted unnamed security sources as saying, “Estimations have increased that the co-pilot wanted to control the plane and shoot it down with all its passengers.”

As for Channel 12, it quoted a senior Israeli official (which it did not name) as saying: “A massive catastrophe has been averted, and the co-pilot is being interrogated, as indications are increasing that he intended to control the plane and shoot it down.”

Israeli media published a picture of a traveler with blood on his shirt, adding that he helped control the situation.