Breaking

The captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv fought off a stabbing attack by his Omani copilot who attempted to crash the aircraft, according to multiple Israeli sources. Captain Smit Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Modi that despite being wounded, he managed to open the cockpit door with a final push, preventing what could have been a catastrophic attack on the Tel Aviv-bound plane.

The aircraft dropped approximately 14,000 feet during the incident before Israeli security personnel were able to enter the cockpit and subdue the copilot. The UAE has defined the incident as a terrorist act, while Israeli sources indicate the investigation is ongoing to determine whether the copilot acted independently or under direction from another party.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “If anyone sent him, whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.” The incident has prompted diplomatic tensions, with UAE sources criticizing Israel’s characterization of the flights as ‘rescue flights’ and noting disagreements over security procedures.

Sources: www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Ynet