Terrified FlyDubai passengers – including children – were filmed screaming and cowering in fear as their flight to Israel plummeted 18,000 feet during Wednesday’s suspected “jihadist terrorist attack.”
Some of the 174 passengers were seen clutching their seats as others appeared to brace themselves, fearing the jet was about to crash, video seen by the Times of Israel shows.
One clip showed the Boeing 737 Max plane tilting at an angle while a handful of passengers tentatively made their way toward the cockpit — where others were seen trying to save the stabbed pilot’s life as others pinned down the bloodied suspect, the co-pilot.
Other powerless passengers on the Tel Aviv-bound flight just tried to console their loved ones amid the mid-air commotion.
“I heard a struggle,” one passenger, known only as Daniel, told Israel’s Channel 12, after the plane landed in Saudi Arabia thanks to the brave efforts of two off-duty “relief” pilots, one of whom is believed to be a Brit.
“Three Israelis who were sitting behind me came to see what was happening, and the plane suddenly went into a very steep dive, nose down, with a very intense spin.”
The FlyDubai pilot was stabbed by a co-pilot — believed to be an Omani national who had been working for the Emirates sister carrier for just a few months — after they tried to grab the controls.
“According to the initial information in our possession, the terrorist had one intention: to crash the plane with all its passengers,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said later.
“The grave incident on the flydubai plane was a jihadist terrorist attack attempt, which was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, overpowered the terrorist and, with their own hands, restored control of the plane to another flight crew who was present there,” Katz said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the pilot “was arrested and is currently being questioned” in Saudi Arabia.
“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and, apparently, tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” the Israeli leader said.
Passengers clapped and rejoiced once the aircraft touched down in Saudi Arabia.
Officials are working to help the stranded Israeli passengers return to the Jewish State.
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