New details have emerged about a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after transmitting international emergency codes.
According to the Times of Israel, authorities are examining reports that one of the pilots may have attempted to take control of the aircraft with the intention of crashing it. The claims have not been officially confirmed by either the relevant authorities or the airline.
Off-duty pilots reportedly intervened
The Times of Israel, citing a report by Israel's Channel 12, said a second crew of off-duty pilots wearing civilian clothing was also on board.
According to the same reports, they helped prevent the situation from escalating by stopping one of the pilots from gaining full control of the aircraft. The Times of Israel stressed that this account has not been officially confirmed.
A senior Israeli official told Channel 12, according to the Times of Israel, that “one of the most serious disasters” had been prevented, claiming that there were growing indications that the co-pilot had attempted to seize the aircraft with the intention of crashing it.
Israeli news website Walla separately reported that the pilot at the centre of the investigation is an Omani national.
Second aircraft sent to Saudi Arabia
The Times of Israel also reported that Flydubai sent a second aircraft to Tabuk airport to collect passengers who remained in Saudi Arabia and allow them to complete their journey to Tel Aviv.
No timetable has yet been provided for the flight's arrival in Israel.
Other Hebrew-language media reports cited by the Times of Israel, and based on passenger accounts, also claimed that one of the pilots had attempted to crash the aircraft but was prevented from doing so by the other pilot with assistance from passengers.
These reports remain unconfirmed.
Investigations into the incident are continuing, and there has so far been no official confirmation of the allegations from the relevant authorities or Flydubai.
Source: Times of Israel
