What we know about stabbing on Israel-bound plane
· World · BBC News, New York Times, ABC News (AU)
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft. The injured pilot, identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, is in stable condition and has been credited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with saving the lives of 174 people. Passengers and crew members reportedly intervened to overpower the assailant, who is currently being questioned by Saudi authorities. The aircraft, carrying mostly Israeli passengers, experienced a rapid descent and issued emergency squawk codes before landing safely in Saudi Arabia. The motive behind the incident remains unclear, though Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has characterized it as an attempted jihadist terror attack.
Why it matters
The incident highlights significant security concerns for international air travel and directly impacts the safety of Indian nationals working abroad in critical aviation roles.
Read the original report — BBC News
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.