Flydubai Hijacking Attempt

‘Severe and unacceptable’:

Herzog condemns Samaria violence

At the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Division headquarters, Herzog condemned recent violence, backed troops fighting terror, and called for arrests.

'We are a nation of lions’:

Netanyahu meets passenger who saved the plane

At Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu embraced Yaniv, one of the Israeli passengers who subdued the rogue copilot and said he pulled the diving Flydubai plane back up.

15 years of experience

This is the pilot who was stabbed in the cockpit

Captain Smit Machchhar, from India, joined flydubai four years ago and fought the terrorist for his life and the lives of the passengers in the cockpit.

'Mom, I'm in Saudi Arabia'

Waiting at Ben Gurion Airport for her daughter, an October 7 bereaved mother received a call from Saudi Arabia and heard of a struggle in the cockpit.

With song and applause

Israeli passengers land in Israel after hijacking attempt

Flydubai replacement flight lands in Ben-Gurion Airport after taking off from Saudi Arabia with 174 Israelis.

Parent, grandparent of passengers

'There were a lot of miracles here'

Elyakim Itali's son and two grandchildren were aboard the Flydubai flight. Speaking from Ben Gurion Airport, he recounts the hours of anxiety and what his family told him about the incident.

Watch

BBC calls Israeli airport 'Ben Gvir'

BBC presenter calls Israel's main international airport by name of National Security Minister instead of Ben Gurion.

A history of Palestinian Arab plane hijacking.

The Palestinian Arabs are unique pioneers in plane hijackings. Op-ed.

Dramatic testimony:

'We tied him up with headphone cables'

Tzvika Manes, one of the passengers who subdued the pilot, recounts the critical moments: screams from the cockpit, a terrifying dive and a violent struggle.

What happens when a plane bound for Israel signals a hijacking?

A deviation from its flight path, loss of communications or a distress signal can trigger a special protocol designed to deal with unusual incidents involving civilian aircraft en route to Israel.

Netanyahu: 'Passengers prevented a major disaster'

Prime Minister says pilot who stabbed fellow pilot apparently attempted to crash plane: 'The passengers who neutralized him saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.'

Suspicion grows

Omani co-pilot may have tried to crash Israel-bound flight

Israeli officials await results of Saudi interrogation of Omani co-pilot suspected of stabbing pilot and attempting to crash Israel-bound Flydubai plane. Mossad chief coordinating investigation.

Lapid attacks, official responds

Clash over warning before plane terror attack

Lapid said that during his briefing with Netanyahu, no incident resembling what occurred on the flight was mentioned. Political official: He was briefed on a significant increase in terrorist activity abroad.

Flydubai Passenger:

'Someone shouted 'Allahu Akbar' and rushed the pilot'

Passengers aboard a Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday say they heard shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' during the incident.

Watch: Israelis rush towards cockpit as plane plummets

New footage shows Israeli passengers rushing toward cockpit of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight as the aircraft suddenly loses altitude.

With blood on his face:

Passenger records aftermath of Flydubai attack

Passenger on diverted flydubai flight records tense moments after the attacker was subdued, providing real-time updates and calling for help.

Watch:

'Od Avinu Chai' during emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

Passengers sing 'Od Avinu Chai' as flydubai plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Watch.

Israeli assessment:

Flydubai incident was a terror attack

Israeli officials say copilot of diverted flydubai flight suspected of repeatedly stabbing captain, trying to seize control of plane before passengers and crew intervened.

Plane plunged 20,000 feet during midair emergency

Flight data shows the Flydubai aircraft descended from about 34,000 to 14,000 feet, with a reported instantaneous descent rate of nearly 31,000 feet per minute.