Israeli officials allege the Omani co-pilot stabbed Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and tried to bring down flight FZ1073 from Dubai on Wednesday. The wounded captain opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, Netanyahu said. Additional Flydubai pilots aboard the aircraft landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight carried 174 passengers, who later reached Israel on a replacement aircraft.
The UAE prosecutor general is investigating whether the attack involved terrorism, prior planning or outside direction. Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel during the inquiry and said the reasons and motives remained unknown. Saudi authorities arrested the suspect, Netanyahu said, and both pilots were hospitalized after the landing.