Netanyahu says pilot may have tried to crash Israel-bound plane after stabbing co-pilot

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to attempt to crash the aircraft, prompting an investigation into whether the incident was a terror attack targeting Israelis, according to the Guardian.

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, commonly known as Tabuk Airport, in Saudi Arabia after the mid-flight attack. Both pilots were wounded in the incident, but a statement from the airport said the rest of the passengers on board were safe.

Israeli authorities said they were examining whether the attack constituted an attempted terrorist act against Israeli passengers, though the investigation was ongoing and further details about the attacker's identity, motive and current custody status had not been made public at the time of reporting.

Aftermath

The incident prompted an emergency response from Saudi aviation authorities, who coordinated the unscheduled landing and the subsequent handling of the aircraft, crew and passengers. Israeli officials said they remained in close contact with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia as the situation developed.

Violent incidents involving flight crew are exceedingly rare, and such episodes typically trigger extensive investigations by aviation regulators as well as law enforcement in the countries involved. No further casualties beyond the two pilots have been reported.

Israeli and Saudi authorities had not yet issued a joint statement on the incident, and neither government had confirmed the identity or background of the pilot accused of carrying out the attack.