Terrified FlyDubai passengers, including children, were filmed screaming and crouching in fear after their flight to Israel plunged 18,000 feet during what officials described as a suspected jihadist terrorist attack on Wednesday.
Video reviewed by the Times of Israel showed some of the 174 passengers gripping their seats while others braced themselves, apparently fearing the Boeing 737 Max was about to crash.
In one clip, the aircraft appears to tilt sharply as several passengers cautiously moved toward the cockpit. Inside, people were seen attempting to save the stabbed pilot while others restrained the bloodied suspect, identified as the co-pilot.
Amid the chaos on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, other passengers could do little more than comfort their relatives as the aircraft remained in mid-air.
“I heard a struggle,” a passenger identified only as Daniel told Israel’s Channel 12. The plane ultimately landed in Saudi Arabia after two off-duty relief pilots, one of whom is believed to be British, helped bring the flight under control.
“Three Israelis who were sitting behind me came to see what was happening, and the plane suddenly went into a very steep dive, nose down, with a very intense spin,” he said.
The FlyDubai pilot was stabbed by the co-pilot, believed to be an Omani national who had worked for the Emirates sister airline for only a few months, after an attempt was made to seize control of the aircraft.
“According to the initial information in our possession, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the plane with all its passengers,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said afterward.
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Katz said the incident was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack that was stopped only through the actions of several Israeli passengers. He said they forced their way into the cockpit, overpowered the suspect and helped return control of the aircraft to another flight crew member who was present.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the pilot had been arrested and was being questioned in Saudi Arabia.
“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and, apparently, tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” Netanyahu said.
Passengers applauded and celebrated when the aircraft finally touched down in Saudi Arabia.
Officials are now working to arrange the return of the stranded Israeli passengers to Israel.
