The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke out this Wednesday regarding the security incident that occurred aboard a Flydubai flight covering the route between Dubai and Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the aircraft issued an emergency alert.
As Netanyahu explained, when the plane was approaching Israel, one of the pilots allegedly stabbed the other and, apparently, attempted to crash the aircraft with its occupants on board. The leader described the event as “extremely serious” and noted that he received information directly from one of the Israeli passengers traveling on the flight.
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According to the account provided by Netanyahu, the passenger explained to him that the plane began to descend sharply and that, faced with the situation, he managed to enter the cockpit along with a crew member. Both reportedly intervened to neutralize the pilot identified as the aggressor, while another crew member managed to stabilize the aircraft.
Netanyahu highlighted the actions of the passengers and crew members who participated in controlling the emergency. The prime minister stated that these individuals demonstrated courage and responsiveness in the midst of a situation that, according to his version, could have led to a tragedy of greater proportions.
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The Israeli leader also reported that the pilot identified as responsible for the aggression was detained after the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and was under interrogation by the authorities of that country. The exact circumstances of what occurred remain under investigation.
Netanyahu also assured that Israel maintains communication with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the passengers and coordinate their return to the country. He also indicated that Israeli security forces have received instructions to remain prepared for potential additional threats while the development of events is being evaluated.
The Flydubai flight was carrying 174 passengers and issued an emergency signal approximately 90 minutes after taking off from Dubai, when it was already in Jordanian airspace. The situation raised concerns about the possibility of a hijacking of the aircraft.
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According to the versions released so far, the plane ended up being diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. Initial reports pointed to a confrontation between the pilots as the origin of the incident, although different hypotheses subsequently emerged regarding what happened inside the cockpit.
Netanyahu also referred to the emergency signals issued during the flight, including codes 7700 and 7500, which generated a security response in the region. The activation of these signals caused concern among Israeli authorities and led to the reinforcement of security measures while the nature of the incident was being determined.
Amid the confusion, Israeli media outlets circulated reports suggesting that the pilot identified as the aggressor may have intended to crash the plane. Other reports, citing security sources, raised the possibility that it was a deliberate attempt to take control of the aircraft.
Netanyahu speaks
Netanyahu noted that Israeli authorities were analyzing all the circumstances of the case and maintaining coordination with their counterparts in the region. The Israeli government was also working to facilitate the return of the passengers to national territory once the corresponding procedures were concluded.
Referring again to the actions of those who intervened during the emergency, Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to the passengers and crew members who helped regain control of the plane. According to the prime minister, their response helped avoid more serious consequences.
The authorities must now determine exactly what happened inside the cockpit, what was the origin of the confrontation between the pilots, and what were the intentions of the detained pilot. Versions regarding a possible hijacking attempt or deliberately crashing the aircraft are still part of the hypotheses being examined.
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For the moment, Netanyahu maintains contact with the authorities involved while the investigation into the incident continues and the necessary measures are coordinated to ensure the safety of the affected passengers.
