Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that an alleged attempt by a flydubai co-pilot to seize control of a passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv was a “jihadist attack,” as Israeli authorities investigated whether the suspect intended to carry out a September 11-style attack.
Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a violent confrontation erupted in the cockpit, sending the Boeing 737 into a dramatic plunge before passengers and other pilots aboard the aircraft intervened.
Katz said the incident was an “attempted jihadist attack” that was foiled after several Israeli passengers entered the cockpit, subdued the suspected attacker and helped return control of the aircraft to other pilots travelling aboard the flight.
According to Katz, preliminary information indicated that the suspected attacker intended to crash the aircraft with everyone aboard.
Israeli officials said investigators were examining several possible scenarios, including whether the suspect intended to deliberately crash the aircraft or carry out what one official described as a September 11-style attack.
The Jerusalem Post cited an Israeli official as saying authorities had not yet established whether the alleged plan was to crash the jet into the ground or use it in a larger attack.
The incident began after the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed the captain inside the cockpit.
The aircraft then plunged thousands of feet in less than a minute and transmitted both a general emergency code and the international transponder code used to signal unlawful interference or hijacking.
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities initially feared the aircraft, carrying more than 100 Israeli passengers, had been hijacked.
Passengers and additional flight crew eventually overpowered the suspected attacker, while off-duty pilots aboard the plane helped stabilise the aircraft.
The plane diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Both pilots were taken to hospital.
Flydubai confirmed that an incident had taken place aboard the aircraft and said crew travelling on the flight had helped secure the plane.
The airline said, however, that the motive remained subject to an official investigation.
Israeli security authorities, including the military, Mossad and Shin Bet, increasingly assessed the incident as a suspected terrorist attack following passenger testimony and information gathered after the landing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz held emergency security consultations as the incident unfolded.
No passengers were reported killed in the attack.
