Pilot’s stabbing on Dubai‑Israel flight sparks investigation into motive

It remains too early to confirm whether the hijacking of a Dubai‑to‑Israel flight was orchestrated by Iran or carried out by a lone attacker, a Tel Aviv journalist has said.

During the flight, a pilot stabbed his co‑pilot, causing the aircraft to plunge more than 17,000 ft. Passengers managed to overpower the attacker, and three Israeli nationals stormed the cockpit after the wounded pilot opened the door, allowing them to regain control.

Passengers and crew restore control

Despite severe injuries and heavy bleeding, the stabbed pilot’s action enabled the door to be opened, which was described by Mark Weiss of the Irish Times as “the first key move that basically saved the lives of everyone on board, all 174 passengers.”

Two passengers subdued the attacker while a third, Asaf Rejwan, helped steer the plane away from a crash. Rejwan later told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he knew what to do from watching the TV series “Mayday: Aviation Disaster.” The aircraft subsequently landed safely in Saudi Arabia before proceeding to Ben Gurion Airport.

Saudi authorities are interrogating the attacker, an Omani citizen, before transferring him to the United Arab Emirates for further questioning, potentially involving Israeli intelligence. Possible motives under consideration include Iranian sponsorship, links to terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda or ISIS, or a lone‑wolf act driven by anti‑Israeli or antisemitic sentiment.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: Joerg Mangelsen / Pexels.