Omani Co-Pilot Tried to Crash Fly Dubai Jet to Israel

New details have emerged on the co-pilot who attempted to crash a Fly Dubai aircraft bound for Israel mid-flight Wednesday morning, as investigators piece together the dramatic incident over Saudi airspace.

According to reports, the co-pilot suspected of the attack is an Omani national, while the captain he stabbed is from the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft was also carrying an off-duty flight crew traveling as passengers as part of routine rotation - they who broke into the cockpit and regained control of the plane.

After the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot was handed over to Saudi authorities for interrogation, with Israeli intelligence officials involved in the questioning.

Bloodied passenger aboard the aircraft (Via Amit Segal's Telegram)

Initial findings point to a suspected suicide attempt in which the co-pilot intended to bring down the aircraft with him, though Israeli officials are assessing the possibility that this was an actual terror attack. According to the reports, the co-pilot repeatedly stabbed the captain. The moment the assault began, crew members and passengers managed to force open the cockpit door and overpower the attacker.

A senior Israeli official stated that "a very serious disaster was averted. The co-pilot is now being interrogated, and indications are growing that he wanted to seize control of the aircraft and crash it with the passengers on board." The official added: "One pilot stabs the other and tries to pull off a 9/11—either hijack the plane to the ground or crash it. The plane begins to dive. There's another crew of pilots on board who overpower the attacker. The crew takes back the aircraft. A dramatic disaster was prevented."