Pilots of landed Flydubai distress flight hospitalized with injuries

TASS

DOHA, September 30. /TASS/. The captain and co-pilot of a Flydubai plane en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia have been hospitalized with injuries, while all passengers are safe, Cluster 2 said.

"The air traffic control center received a distress signal from Flydubai flight FZ1073 requesting an emergency landing at [Tabuk] airport. <…> The captain of the aircraft and the co-pilot were injured and have been taken to hospital for necessary medical assistance. <…> The passengers are being given necessary assistance inside the terminal," the airport operator said in a statement.

Earlier, i24News said, citing Israeli officials, that the Jewish state is investigating the incident as a terrorist attack. According to the TV channel, the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, stabbed the flight captain, a UAE citizen, and attempted to take control of the plane. The attacker was subdued by passengers and the crew, while pilots from South Africa and New Zealand on board the flight helped land the plane at Tabuk.

Fonte: TASS