New footage released Wednesday from the Fly Dubai aircraft shows the moments of the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, after crew members and passengers managed to overpower the co-pilot who attacked the captain. The video shows Israeli passengers landing while clapping and singing "Od Avinu Chai".
After the drama in the skies
Israelis land in Saudi singing "Od Avinu Chai"
Footage from the Fly Dubai emergency landing shows Israeli passengers clapping and singing after crew and passengers overpowered a co-pilot who attacked the captain mid-flight
Initial investigation suggests the pilot may have attempted suicide and tried to crash the plane with all aboard, and Israeli officials are assessing the possibility that this was an actual terror attack. According to reports, the co-pilot began stabbing the captain repeatedly. The moment the attack began, crew members and several passengers managed to break through the cockpit door and subdue the attacker.
The suspected co-pilot is reportedly of Omani origin, while the other pilot was from the United Arab Emirates. Reports indicate that an additional crew of pilots was on the flight, traveling as civilians as part of routine training exercises, and they were the ones who took control of the aircraft and stabilized it. After the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot was transferred to Saudi interrogation, with Israeli intelligence officials also involved in the questioning.
An Israeli official stated that "a very serious disaster was prevented. The co-pilot is now being interrogated; indications are growing that he wanted to take control of the plane and crash it with the passengers." The official added: "One pilot stabs the other and tries to do a 9/11. Either hijack the plane to the ground or crash it. The plane starts diving. There's another crew of pilots there who overpower the attacker. The crew takes control of the plane. A dramatic disaster was prevented."
