Hero Indian Captain on flydubai prevented a Second 9/11 terror attack, saved 180

The Captain who fought the co-pilot of the flydubai FZ1073 and prevented an apparent terror attack is an Indian national, report Israel's YNet News and Channel 12.

The flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was landed by off-duty pilots travelling among the passengers. Initial reports suggest that the Indian Captain was stabbed and fought back, preventing the plane from crashing and over 180 people, mostly Israelis, being killed.

According to the report by Channel 12, the pilot is of "Indian origin", while Ynet news identified him as an "Indian national".

The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane is now the subject of an investigation into how he was granted permission to fly to Israel. According to the report, all foreign crew members, particularly those from Arab or Gulf states, undergo strict and individual security assessments and screening before being allowed to enter Israeli airspace or land in Israel.

An Israeli official who spoke to N12 — the digital venture of Channel 12 — described the severity of the incident and made it clear that a major attack was averted. "One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do 9/11 – either hijack the plane to the ground or crash it," the official was quoted as saying by N12.

Yasmin Abukasis, mother of passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon, told AFP her daughter called her from Saudi Arabia: "She said one pilot tried to kill the other pilot with a knife. They heard shouting".

Another passenger went to the cockpit "and saw a lot of blood. She started screaming 'come help' and some people went in and caught the guy", she added.

Investigators are also examining whether the Omani co-pilot held dual citizenship, which may have enabled him to board the flight to Israel. Israeli sources, quoted by Channel 12 reported that he had been working for the airline for less than a year.

Ynet news reported that both the pilots are currently lodged in a hospital at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

An Israeli passenger told The Jerusalem Post that one pilot stabbed another and tried to force him out of the cockpit as the aircraft began plunging.

According to the passenger, several Israelis seated near the front rushed to the cockpit and fought the attacker as the plane descended. Two other pilots seated at the back initially appeared to be in shock, prompting the passenger to shout at them to take control of the aircraft.

The passenger said the group eventually managed to remove the attacker from the cockpit and bring the two pilots inside. One of them then took control of the aircraft, while the other took longer to recover from the shock.

The stabbed pilot was in critical condition, the passenger told The Jerusalem Post. An Israeli dentist travelling on the flight treated the injured pilot and, according to the passenger, helped save his life.- Ends

A history and geopolitics buff, Shounak is a newly minted writer. He looks to bring his interests into his stories. When not at work, he can be found consumed in books, videogames and drawing.