Rome, 30 Sep. (LaPresse) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said evidence in the authorities’ possession regarding the crash on Flydubai indicated that one of the pilots stabbed his colleague and that he intended to crash the plane. “An extremely serious security incident occurred this morning,” Netanyahu said in a video message released by Israeli media. “Almost all the passengers on board were Israelis,” he stressed, saying that as the plane approached Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the plane with the passengers on board. The prime minister said that an Israeli passenger, with whom he spoke personally, along with a crew member, managed to break into the cockpit and stop the pilot as he was attempting to damage the plane’s systems. Another crew member then entered the cabin and managed to stabilize the aircraft, Netanyahu added. “We are in constant contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and their safe return home,” the prime minister said, adding that Israel is also carrying out regular assessments of the situation.
Netanyahu confirms attack by one pilot on another: attempted hijacking
Rome, 30 Sep. (LaPresse) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said evidence in the authorities’ possession regarding the crash on Flydubai indicated that one of the pilots stabbed his colleague and that he intended to crash the plane. “An extremely serious security incident occurred this morning,” Netanyahu said in a video message released by Israeli media. “Almost all the passengers on board were Israelis,” he stressed, saying that as the plane approached Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the plane with the passengers on board. The prime minister said that an Israeli passenger, with whom he spoke personally, along with a crew member, managed to break into the cockpit and stop the pilot as he was attempting to damage the plane’s systems. Another crew member then entered the cabin and managed to stabilize the aircraft, Netanyahu added. “We are in constant contact with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of passengers and their safe return home,” the prime minister said, adding that Israel is also carrying out regular assessments of the situation.