X/@AmichaiStein1

BS BULLETIN:

• A Flydubai jet carrying roughly 180 passengers suddenly lost about 17,000 feet while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
• Israeli officials say one pilot stabbed the other and apparently tried to crash the plane.
• Passengers and off-duty crew members reportedly stormed the cockpit, subdued the attacker and helped regain control.

Passengers aboard a flight bound for Israel went from an ordinary trip home to fighting for their lives after a horrifying scene erupted inside the cockpit.

Flydubai Flight 1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the Boeing 737 MAX suddenly began dropping from roughly 34,000 feet.

Flight-tracking data showed the plane losing about 17,000 feet in less than two minutes.

Then came the emergency signals.

The aircraft transmitted a general emergency code followed by 7500 — the aviation code signaling unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.

What passengers reportedly discovered inside the cockpit was even worse.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and “apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board.”

According to Netanyahu, an Israeli passenger and a crew member forced their way into the cockpit and subdued the alleged attacker as he was trying to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.

Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon described a terrifying scene.

“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane,” she told reporters.

She said the aircraft appeared to be headed toward a crash before passengers and crew managed to intervene.

Another passenger said several men rushed into the cockpit and subdued the attacker while two off-duty pilots traveling aboard the plane were called forward to help regain control.

The plane eventually stabilized and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

No passengers were reported injured.

Two crew members were taken to a hospital, and Netanyahu said the suspected attacker was arrested and being questioned by Saudi authorities.

Israel had scrambled fighter jets after receiving the hijacking signal, according to officials.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the episode as an attempted terrorist attack and credited passengers with preventing catastrophe.

Flydubai has been more cautious about assigning a motive.

The airline confirmed that an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and said crew members traveling aboard the aircraft secured the plane and landed it safely.

“All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for,” the airline said.

Flydubai said the reason and motive behind the incident remain under formal investigation.

DBS WIRE SOURCES:

• Flydubai Co-Pilot Stabs Captain Midair — Israeli Passengers Subdue Him Before the Plane Can Crash
• Dubai to Israel flight makes emergency landing, passenger says “co-pilot tried to murder the pilot” and crash jet
• Pilot on Tel Aviv-bound flight tried to crash plane after cockpit stabbing, Netanyahu says
• Hijacking ruled out as flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that declared emergency lands at Saudi airport
• Flydubai’s Tel Aviv flight terror plot: Off-duty pilots saved over 170 Israelis