Dramatic footage from the Flydubai flight that had been diverted Wednesday for an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following the stabbing of its pilot reveals the chaotic moments after the attack, as passengers and crew members rallied around the injured captain while awaiting clearance for landing in Saudi Arabia – with off-duty pilots taking the helm to stabilize the aircraft from its rapid descent.
Video: The Emirati pilot after being stabbed on the FlyDubai flight on September 30 / Credit: Social media
The recording shows the wounded pilot while those present desperately try to keep him conscious. "Do not fall asleep," one person told him in English.
Video: The moments of the incident in the FlyDubai flight / Credit: Usage under Israeli intellectual property law Article 27a
Later in the video, Israeli passengers appear standing in the cockpit area to secure the entrance. One of them turned to the camera and said, "Brother, film us too, that we are guarding here. We were attacked and we are guarding the pilot here." Another passenger, sporting a visible wound on his forehead, added, "On this plane they tried to murder the pilot, we took control of the crew."
One passenger is heard off-camera stating, "This is the pilot they tried to murder." He then urged others to document the scene, calling out, "Film everything. We are standing here, nobody passes the pilot's door."
As the video progresses, a passenger pointed toward an individual pinned to the floor and declared, "That is the one who stabbed him." When a flight attendant tried to halt the recording by shouting, "No video," the passenger firmly replied, "No, no, no, we need this."
Video: Israelis sing Od Avinu Chai as the FlyDubai jet lands safely / Credit: Usage under Israeli Intellectual Property Law Article 27a
The footage offers a gripping first look at the tense aftermath of the midair stabbing, capturing the critical moments when passengers and crew awaited medical help and defended the flight deck.
The plane eventually arrived at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The two pilots, both the attacker and the victim, were subsequently transferred to receive medical care.
