flydubai co-pilot arrested after stabbing captain in alleged attempt to crash plane

A flyDubai co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain in an attempt to crash the plane has been arrested. The flight, FZ1073, was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, mostly Israelis, when chaos erupted in the cockpit over Jordan, forcing an emergency diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Despite being seriously injured, Indian captain Smith Mutcher fought back against the attacker. The plane plunged more than 4,000m at one point, damaging the tail's rudder. Passengers and crew entered the cockpit and managed to overpower the co-pilot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Mutcher and passenger Yaniv Hayoun as heroes. Israel's Security Minister claimed the co-pilot intended to crash the plane and kill Israelis. flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues. Read more: https://cna.asia/4xR4Cvr