A flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after issuing a distress signal, prompting initial fears of a hijacking and the dispatch of Israeli fighter jets.
An Israeli official told Haaretz that authorities are treating the flight as a terror incident and are seriously considering the possibility that it was an attempt to crash the plane.
At 8:22 A.M., while over Saudi Arabia and about an hour before its scheduled arrival in Israel, the aircraft suddenly began a steep descent. Flight data recorded by several tracking sites showed it dropping from 34,000 feet to 16,000 feet in less than two minutes, a rate of about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) per minute.
The aircraft then activated a general distress code, followed several minutes later by a hijacking code. It flew toward Jordan and crossed into the country before turning back toward Saudi Arabia.
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A diverted flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv seen on a map at an airport in Saudi Arabia, Wednesday. Credit: Flightradar24/Screenshot
A diverted flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv seen on a map at an airport in Saudi Arabia, Wednesday. Credit: Flightradar24/Screenshot
The flight landed at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northwest Saudi Arabia. About 180 Israeli passengers were on board.
Flydubai confirmed an incident had occurred on the flight, saying in a statement that the aircraft had landed safely and all passengers were safe. “Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” it said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held consultations on the matter.
In a statement, Netanyhau’s office said the incident was under control, “and all necessary measures are now being taken to safely return the Israeli passengers to Israel.”
Passengers on the flight said the pilots had lost control of the plane before other passengers broke into the cockpit and intervened.
Dalia Shpigel told Haaretz that passengers seated toward the front of the plane broke into the cockpit after realizing something was wrong.
“An hour before landing, we felt that there was no control over the plane, that it was starting to jump,” she said. “The guys saw that the plane had begun to dive and broke into the cockpit.”
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A passenger is seen covered in blood in this image shared on social media. Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law
A passenger is seen covered in blood in this image shared on social media.Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright LawRelated Articles
Speaking to Israel’s Channel 12 News, two women said they believed one of the pilots had been stabbed. “People started screaming. Then the plane began moving from side to side. We understood that the pilots had lost control because one of them had been stabbed.”