Netanyahu says Saudi authorities arrest Flydubai pilot, question him

TASS

TEL AVIV, September 30. /TASS/. The Flydubai pilot who stabbed his co-pilot during a flight to Tel Aviv has been arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"This morning, there was a serious security incident on a flight from Dubai to Israel. Almost all the passengers on the flight were Israelis. During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the second pilot, and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board. <…> The stabbing pilot was arrested and is currently being interrogated by the Saudi authorities," he said in a video address released by his press office.

"We (Israel – TASS) are maintaining constant communication with the relevant authorities to ensure the ongoing well-being of the passengers and their safe return home," Netanyahu added.

Netanyahu also said he had instructed security agencies to prepare for additional potential threats following the incident aboard the Flydubai aircraft. "I instructed the security agencies to prepare for additional potential threats," he said, praising "the heroes of the flight from Dubai who showed resourcefulness and courage."

The Israeli prime minister said he had "spoken to one of the Israelis," who "reported that the aircraft went into a spin and began to dive." "He said that somehow he managed to enter the cockpit together with one of the crew members and the injured pilot while the latter was still alive," and they "miraculously and with extraordinary courage saved many lives" and "prevented a major disaster." "The aircraft landed safely at an airport in Saudi Arabia, with everyone on board out of danger," Netanyahu added.

Fonte: TASS