Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight News Live Updates: Flydubai passengers recall mid-air horror; ‘there was blood in the cockpit’

Israel-Bound Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia Amid ‘Violent Incident’ Between Pilots (File photo)

A passenger on board the Israel-bound flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia described chaotic scenes to Channel 12. “We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit, and we saw blood, and someone had stabbed the pilot with a pocketknife,” the unnamed woman told the network via text message. It is believed that a violent altercation developed between the two pilots. The woman said that the Israeli passengers helped restrain an attacker along with members of the crew. “We prayed, ‘Shema Yisrael,’” she says. “There were also moments when we thought we weren’t going to make it out alive. Another woman, who identified identifying herself as Noam, said, “Screams began on the plane… by passengers who realised what was happening. We understand that one of the pilots was stabbed and seriously wounded, and they lost control of the plane. It started to dive quickly. It was very scary.”

Flydubai lands in Saudi Arabia after ‘violent incident’ between pilots

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that had signalled an emergency landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia moments ago. Flydubai emergency signals were reportedly triggered by an altercation between pilots aboard the flight, The Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli security sources.

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‘Incident was not hijacking,’ says Israel PM spokesperson

The incident was not a hijacking, the Israeli prime minister’s spokesperson said. “The situation is under control, and all measures are currently being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel safely,” said the Prime Minister’s Office, according to The Times Of Israel.

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