Tel Aviv, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : An Israeli minister has condemned an attempt to crash a flight bound for Tel Aviv as a “terrorist” act. This incident occurred when a flight from Saudi Arabia was forced to make an emergency landing after a struggle between the pilot and co-pilot raised fears of a hijacking. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that this event underscores the need for Israel to intensify its military operations throughout the region.
On social media platform X, Ben-Gvir expressed gratitude for the passengers’ safety but emphasized the necessity to strengthen Israel’s security policy. He asserted that the country must continue fighting until “complete victory” is achieved over threats from Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank.
He remarked, “This naive belief that our enemies understand the value of life and deserve our mercy received another harsh lesson this morning.” This lesson came from a terrorist who allegedly planned to blow up the aircraft and kill the 180 Israelis on board.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed these sentiments, stating that anyone attempting to down the plane and kill the passengers should face punishment equivalent to the crime committed. He also called for similar consequences for the nation or terrorist organization that orchestrated the attack.
Israeli media outlets, including The Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, and Haaretz, reported that an unnamed official classified the incident as “terrorist” in nature, expressing suspicion that one of the pilots may have deliberately attempted to crash the aircraft.
The Boeing 737 Max 8, carrying around 180 passengers, made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning. The aircraft had sent three emergency signals, one of which indicated a “potential unlawful interference.” Disturbing accounts and videos from passengers have surfaced, revealing that some travelers intervened to subdue the attacker, resulting in serious injuries to one pilot.
Images show an unidentified passenger with blood on his shirt while others recounted that a pilot had tried to crash the plane before being subdued.
Later, the Prime Minister‘s office confirmed that the situation was “under control” and measures were being taken to repatriate the passengers to Israel. Local reports indicated that the military dispatched fighter jets amid hijacking fears, although the Prime Minister’s office soon dismissed the possibility of a hijacking.
In a statement, Tabuk Airport reported that the flight landed at 9:45 AM local time, with both the captain and co-pilot found injured and transported to the hospital. FlyDubai acknowledged that “an incident occurred en route” with Flight FZ 1073, but confirmed that all passengers were safe and unharmed.
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