A serious security incident involving a flydubai passenger aircraft has raised fresh concerns over the recovery of regional air travel, after a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to bring down the plane.
The incident happened on a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. According to reports, the aircraft suddenly went into a steep descent after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain.
Despite being injured, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and restrain the co-pilot. Two reserve pilots who were also on board subsequently took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The passengers were later flown to Israel on another aircraft. Flydubai has since suspended its flights to Israel while investigations continue, with the airline saying the reason behind the incident remains unknown.
The episode comes at a difficult time for Middle Eastern aviation. Airlines in the region had already suffered major disruptions following the conflict involving Iran, although flight operations had gradually been recovering towards pre-war levels.
Flydubai had been expecting to return to full capacity by the end of the year, but analysts say the latest incident could create additional uncertainty around the airline’s recovery, particularly on routes connecting the Gulf and Israel.
Authorities are still investigating the co-pilot’s motive, and Reuters reports that it remains unclear whether the incident was linked to terrorism or another cause.
