Israel's Netanyahu says co-pilot tried to crash Tel Aviv-bound plane

A passenger flight bound for Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia following a violent cockpit confrontation in which a co-pilot stabbed the aircraft's captain, according to accounts highlighted by France 24 in a review of international media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot, identified as an Omani citizen, intended to intentionally bring down the plane. While Israeli news outlets have widely characterized the mid-flight violence as an attempted act of terror, official confirmation regarding the assailant's specific motives has not yet been established.

The incident occurred aboard a FlyDubai service en route to Israel. During the flight, the co-pilot assaulted the captain with a blade, sending the airliner into a steep descent before control could be regained. Passengers and several off-duty airline crew members traveling on the aircraft intervened, successfully subduing the attacker.

Reports in the Israeli press detailed that four standby pilots employed by FlyDubai were conveniently traveling as passengers, having been positioned on the flight due to regional route adjustments that frequently extend flight durations. These off-duty personnel and Israeli passengers rushed the flight deck to overpower the co-pilot. Their intervention prevented what domestic publications described as a potential aviation catastrophe. Following the struggle, the airliner touched down safely on Saudi territory.

The security episode has quickly reverberated through domestic politics in Israel. Commentators noted that the confrontation occurred just weeks ahead of scheduled legislative elections, potentially providing political momentum for Netanyahu's ongoing campaign as political discussions turn toward national security.

The high-altitude crisis was part of a broader review of global headlines covered by France 24. Among other developments, media attention in the United States focused on fresh legal action against Cornell University, where a former student has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the institution of mishandling her report of an alleged sexual assault by multiple fraternity members.

Separately, a criminal case in Singapore underscored the severe legal consequences of spreading fabricated content. Authorities there charged a Myanmar national after he disseminated a synthetic, computer-generated photo depicting a crocodile inside a reservoir at a public park. The hoax triggered a two-day search and a complete closure of the recreational site, resulting in criminal accusations for distributing false imagery and obstructing justice.