By Sumayya
Authorities are analyzing whether a pilot on a Flydubai journey tried to down a Tel Aviv-bound aircraft on Wednesday, based on Israeli press records.
The aircraft lost thousands of meters of height in near a minute before executing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, with Flydubai validating that all travelers were secure.
What transpired on the Flydubai journey?
Flydubai expressed journey FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv encountered an “event” while en route and landed securely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The plane stood a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
“The aircraft has landed securely in Tabuk Airport and all travelers remain secure and accounted for,” a Flydubai speaker expressed.
Israeli station Channel 12 reported that authorities were analyzing whether single of the pilots had deliberately tried to down the aircraft, with the alternate pilot stepping in to block him.
Israeli press expressed single of the pilots suffered a knife wound. Initial records had portrayed the event single as a clash between the two pilots.
The Israeli news gate Ynet reported that the aircraft entered a sharp descent and that travelers helped single pilot block the alternate from downing the plane.
Profiles printed by Israeli outlets seemed to display a traveler with blood on his shirt.
According to records, the captain stood of Russian line and the co-pilot Ukrainian.
How far did the aircraft fall?
Flight tracking metrics display the aircraft suddenly losing near half its height.
The aircraft dropped from close to 34,000 feet (10,360 meters) at 05:21 GMT/UTC to below 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) at 05:22 GMT/UTC, based on Flightradar metrics.
Israel’s Kan civic station and Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army deployed fighter jets amid initial anxieties of a probable hijacking. That path stood later dismissed, according to the records.
