A FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia following what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a "highly severe security incident."
After being briefed on the incident, Netanyahu said the co-pilot tried to crash the plane after stabbing the pilot but was unsuccessful after passengers and crew intervened.
An Israeli official told Reuters the plane transmitted emergency signals after rapidly descending by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
A member of the crew, along with passengers, broke into the cockpit after the aircraft "entered a tailspin and began to dive" and discovered the co-pilot "trying to sabotage the plane's systems," Netanyahu said.
The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was subdued for the remainder of the flight and arrested upon landing.
"All passengers are out of harm's way," Netanyahu said in a video statement on Wednesday. "They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster," he added.
Israeli officials told Reuters that the incident was likely an attempted "terror attack" and not related to any kind of mental health issue with either of the flight's pilots.
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