Off-duty Russian and Ukrainian pilots flying as passengers save FlyDubai jet

Two pilots — citizens of Russia and Ukraine — were on board a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv as passengers and managed to take control of the aircraft after a distress signal was sent, reports infohub.kz.

The administration of Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia confirmed that after landing, rescuers took both injured pilots of the flight to a local hospital. Two off-duty crew members — a Russian and a Ukrainian pilot — took over control of the airliner in midair. They were traveling as passengers, but managed to neutralize the threat and ensure a safe landing of the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

Israel's Transport Minister Miri Regev instructed the country's aviation authorities to suspend all Flydubai flights to Israel. She also called for an investigation into whether FlyDubai violated aviation agreements between Israel and the UAE, which require flight crews to hold passports from countries that maintain official diplomatic relations with Israel.

The investigation will focus on the fact that the second pilot holds Omani citizenship — a country that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft. It was later reported that the airliner had landed in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, Flydubai told Israeli television that a fight had broken out between the pilots on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.

Soon the first photos and videos from the plane appeared. The image shows a passenger who is believed to have struggled with the attacker. Authorities are investigating the possibility that one of the pilots may have deliberately tried to crash the plane. It is believed that his actions were stopped by the second pilot and Israeli passengers, who fought him and prevented a catastrophe.

Another version regarding the citizenship of the pilots was also voiced. After the version with Russian and Ukrainian citizenship, reports emerged that the pilots hold Omani and UAE citizenship.

Later, information appeared that one of the pilots may have died from stab wounds following the attack.