Israel arrests a Flydubai co‑pilot after an alleged stabbing of the captain that nearly caused a crash, Prime Minister Netanyahu says.

Israel arrested a Flydubai co‑pilot on Wednesday after he allegedly stabbed the aircraft’s captain during a flight approaching the country.

Official statement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the arrest, saying, “During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently attempted to crash the plane.” He added that the act “nearly caused the plane to crash.”

Details of the incident

The flight, operated by low‑cost carrier Flydubai, was diverted after the alleged assault. Israeli police took the co‑pilot into custody at the airport where the aircraft landed. Authorities have not released the flight number, departure point or passenger count.

Airline response

Flydubai confirmed that a crew member was detained by Israeli authorities and said it is cooperating fully with the investigation. The airline did not comment on the motive behind the alleged stabbing.

Legal and security implications

Police said they are conducting a forensic examination of the cockpit and reviewing flight‑deck recordings. The arrested co‑pilot faces charges of attempted murder and endangering public safety, according to a spokesperson for the Israeli police.

International reaction

Several aviation safety experts warned that the case underscores the need for stricter cockpit security protocols. No other airline has reported a similar incident in the past year.

Next steps

The investigation remains ongoing. Israeli authorities have not indicated whether additional crew members will be questioned or if any passengers were injured. Flydubai has pledged to keep passengers informed as more information becomes available.