flydubai co-pilot tried to crash Tel Aviv-bound plane: Netanyahu

JERUSALEM, Sep 30: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that one of the pilots of a flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv had planned to crash it and kill its mostly Israeli passengers, who stopped a "major disaster".

"During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board," Netanyahu said in a video message, calling the passengers "heroes" who "prevented a major disaster".

He added that Saudi Arabia has arrested and is interrogating a flydubai co-pilot.

This came after the involved flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to be diverted to Saudi Arabia where it landed safely, three Israeli officials said. Both pilots were found to be wounded on landing in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, UAE based airliner Flydubai on Wednesday said the reasons for an altercation that "occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ 1073" remained unknown and were under formal investigation. — AFP