In brief
A Flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv was rocked by violence when a pilot allegedly stabbed the flight crew and pushed the plane toward a crash. Passengers on board filmed the sudden collapse and the frantic calls for help that followed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the incident and called for a full investigation. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after losing 5,200 meters of altitude in under two minutes.
Passengers aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv described a harrowing incident in which a pilot reportedly stabbed the crew and pushed the aircraft toward a crash.
Video footage from the cabin shows the plane suddenly plummeting 5,200 metres in less than two minutes, after which the crew and passengers called for emergency assistance. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia following the emergency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the event and said it will be fully investigated. Passengers captured the incident on their phones, and the footage has spread rapidly on social media.
The incident has raised serious concerns about aviation safety and the security of crew members on flights in the Middle East.