Flydubai has suspended flights to Israel until the investigation into an incident aboard a plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv is completed, Israeli media report.
Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a possible terrorist attack. Measures are currently being taken to return passengers to the country as soon as possible. After returning to Israel, passengers may undergo additional screening by security services.
According to updated information, one of the pilots is of Indian origin, and the other is Omani. The pilots are not Russian or Ukrainian citizens, as was initially assumed.
Shortly after entering Jordanian airspace, the Omani first officer stabbed the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft by force. His motives remain unknown. Among the theories being considered is that he holds dual citizenship. Some sources also reported that the Omani pilot had been working at Flydubai for less than a year. According to information from Saudi Arabia, both pilots have been hospitalized.
Two other pilots on board, citizens of South Africa and New Zealand, helped land the plane safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority to verify whether Flydubai complied with aviation agreements with Israel governing crew requirements for flights to the country.