‘Hero’ pilot stabbed by different pilot on Israel-bound airplane, Israeli PM says

Flydubai stated in a press release that “an altercation occurred within the flight deck” and the flight was “efficiently secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the plane safely at Tabuk airport”.

An airline spokesperson added: “Our instant precedence is to make sure the continued security, well being, and wellbeing of all passengers and crew members concerned on this incident and assist the official investigation.”

The passengers who had been on board flight FZ1073 arrived in Tel Aviv at round 18:40 native time (15:40 GMT). They have been greeted on the airport by crowds of onlookers taking part in music, singing, dancing and waving Israeli flags.

A variety of individuals have been “very emotional and crying as they got here off the airplane,” a paramedic from Israel’s ambulance service instructed the BBC.

One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, met Netanyahu and instructed him how he and others on the flight had restrained the attacker.

“The pilot who was stabbed was merely very near the door, so it was onerous for us to open it,” Hayun stated in a video posted on social media by the prime minister’s workplace, however earlier than the stabbed pilot – now recognized as Machchhar – collapsed, he was in a position to open the door.

Yaniv stated he put the attacker, who was attempting to disable the airplane, in a chokehold earlier than different passengers helped pin him down.

He added that he “pulled the controls” of the airplane and after it levelled out, one other pilot took over management.