Vitaly Saenko16:56, 30.09.26

The Omani co-pilot is currently being questioned in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of attempting to crash a passenger airliner.

A Ukrainian and a Russian, who were ordinary passengers on a Flydubai Boeing 737 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, apparently prevented one of the largest air terrorist attacks in recent years, Israel Hayom reports .

Israeli officials confirmed that the plane was piloted by a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, who served as captain, and a co-pilot of Omani origin. Mounting evidence suggests that the co-pilot intended to seize control of the plane and deliberately cause a crash with the passengers on board.

While authorities are ruling out a hijacking, they have determined that the emergency on board resulted from a violent brawl in the cockpit. It is believed the confrontation began in a desperate attempt to prevent the co-pilot from committing a terrorist act.

Israeli authorities have classified the co-pilot from Oman as a terrorist. Saudi Arabian authorities are currently interrogating the suspect.

According to passengers, the pilots lost control, and the collision in the cockpit left several people’s shirts stained with blood. A crash was only avoided because there were two other pilots among the passengers—a Ukrainian and a Russian.

“Reports indicate that the additional pilot crew – a Russian and a Ukrainian – were traveling as passengers and were ultimately able to land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia,” the statement said.

All details of the FlyDubai crew are currently being thoroughly checked. Meanwhile, Israel has decided to send an evacuation flight to Saudi Arabia to pick up stranded citizens, pending approval from Riyadh. The plane was carrying 170 Israelis.

(C)UNIAN 2026