NEW DELHI: The pilot who is said to have helped prevent a flydubai passenger plane from crashing after his co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was reportedly of Indian origin.The “Indian-origin pilot” intervened to stop his Omani co-pilot, who allegedly tried to take control of the aircraft and crash it, according to Israel’s Channel 12The incident unfolded aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, with the Boeing 737 sending emergency signals before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight was carrying around 180 Israeli passengers, all of whom were reported safe.The report said Israeli authorities are now examining how the Omani national was cleared to operate a flight to Israel. It also said the possibility of Mossad involvement in the investigation was being examined, while passengers are expected to be questioned by Israel’s security establishment after they return to the country.The nationality details have not been independently confirmed by flydubai. Israeli media have given conflicting accounts of the pilots’ identities, while Reuters reported that some outlets had identified the crew as Omani and Emirati and others as Russian and Ukrainian.Also read: Passengers recall harrowing ordeal on flight that nearly crashed
What happened inside the cockpit?
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was flying over Jordan when it transmitted an emergency signal, followed by another signal indicating possible unlawful interference.Israeli officials said the emergency signals followed a physical altercation between the two pilots. Reuters reported that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew entered the cockpit. Both pilots were later hospitalised after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.Israeli media reports said the suspected attacker attempted to take control of the aircraft and force it into a descent. Passengers reportedly heard screaming and saw blood inside the cockpit.Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft plunging rapidly from around 34,000 feet to about 20,000 feet, with Reuters reporting a drop of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the aircraft stabilised.The aircraft was initially treated as a possible hijacking, prompting Israeli fighter jets to be scrambled. The Israeli prime minister’s office later said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.Israeli media reports have described the incident as a possible attempted suicide or deliberate crash, while Israeli officials cited by Reuters said they were assessing it as a possible attempted “terror attack”. Reuters also reported that officials did not believe the incident was related to a mental-health issue.
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Also read: Israel security minister on flydubai cockpit incident
Flydubai confirms ‘incident’
Flydubai has confirmed that Flight FZ1073 experienced an incident during its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available,” the airline said.Read more: Passenger’s mother says pilot tried to kill co-pilot on Flydubai flightThe airline has not publicly confirmed the identities or nationalities of the pilots or provided details about what happened inside the cockpit.The investigation is continuing, with Israeli authorities examining the circumstances of the cockpit confrontation, the alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft and the security clearance given to the crew.
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