Israel PM says pilot of rerouted flight tried to crash plane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that the pilot of a flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv deliberately attempted to crash the plane and kill its passengers after the flight was forced to land in Saudi Arabia. Passengers on the flight corroborated the claim, saying the aircraft suddenly dropped about 17,000 feet in roughly one minute, prompting a struggle for control of the cockpit. Flight‑tracking data from Flightradar24 recorded the rapid loss of altitude, confirming the dramatic descent.
The incident unfolded after the flydubai flight, originally scheduled to travel directly to Tel Aviv, was rerouted and ultimately made an emergency landing on Saudi territory. The abrupt plunge and subsequent fight for control suggest a possible sabotage or hijacking attempt, raising concerns about the security of flights operating in the volatile Middle‑East airspace. The pilot’s alleged actions have prompted Israeli authorities to investigate the motives behind the attempted crash, while also scrutinising the protocols that allowed a potentially hostile individual to assume command of the aircraft.
In the wake of Netanyahu’s statement, regional officials and aviation regulators are expected to examine the chain of events that led to the emergency landing and the alleged pilot misconduct. The episode adds to heightened tensions over air travel safety in the region, with implications for airlines’ routing decisions and for diplomatic relations between Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, under whose flag flydubai operates.
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