❗️ Netanyahu and Katz describe attempted attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an “extremely serious security incident” occurred aboard the flydubai flight, saying one of the pilots apparently tried to crash the aircraft with everyone aboard. Netanyahu said the pilot who allegedly carried out the stabbing had been arrested and was being interrogated by Saudi authorities.
Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as “a jihadist terrorist attack attempt.” The copilot allegedly stabbed the pilot in a suspected attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv aircraft, which subsequently landed in Saudi Arabia.
“The grave incident on the flydubai plane was a jihadist terrorist attack attempt, which was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, overpowered the terrorist and, with their own hands, restored control of the plane to another flight crew who was present there,” Katz said.
“According to the initial information in our possession, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the plane with all its passengers,” he said.
Katz added: “When the Prime Minister and I issue security warnings and alerts based on intelligence, everyone would do well—including our enemies abroad and out-of-date former officials at home—to listen and take them seriously. Every warning has multiple intended audiences and purposes. Most importantly, the warnings never come at the expense of the proactive and offensive operations we are leading together with the IDF against every threat—and they are no substitute for them.”
🛰️ Israel investigates possible Iranian connection: An Israeli security official told i24 News that Israel is investigating whether Iran had any connection to the attempted takeover of the flydubai aircraft.
According to the official, the copilot who allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it is of Omani origin and is being questioned. The main pilot was Emirati and prevented the copilot from taking control.
Channel 12’s Amit Segal reported that the Omani copilot boarded the flydubai aircraft with an axe.
One of the Israeli passengers who intervened recalled: “We pounced forcefully on the pilot and tied him up with the headphones.”
Separately, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told the Emiratis: “Just as hosting American bases did not bring you security, neither will hosting the butcher of Gaza.”
✈️ Aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet: Passenger footage from the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight showed the aircraft taking a rapid plunge during the incident.
According to flight-tracking data, the plane dropped more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds.
🇮🇱 Replacement flight cleared to return passengers to Israel: A flydubai aircraft landed at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport to collect the stranded passengers from the earlier Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Most of the passengers are Israeli and boarded the replacement flight to return to Israel.
The departure was initially delayed after the names of the flight crew were sent to the Mossad for approval. Israel was meanwhile considering sending an unmarked Israeli aircraft, pending Saudi approval.
The Mossad subsequently approved the flydubai crew. The departure was described as the first flight from Saudi Arabia to Israel.
⚠️ Shin Bet chief and transportation minister clash over UAE flights: A heated clash took place between the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the transportation minister during a discussion over the continuation of flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
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