Off-duty Kiwi credited for helping land plane after pilot stabbed

A New Zealander has been identified as one of two off-duty pilots who took control of a passenger plane after its first officer reportedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the plane. 

An Israeli official told Aviation Herald that the Kiwi was one of two off-duty pilots on the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight who helped land the plane after the cockpit fight. The other was said to be of South African descent. 

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson told the Herald its embassies in the region were responding to the incident. 

“All passengers are reported safe and accounted for. 

“We are aware of reports that a New Zealand citizen was among the 174 people on board, however we do not yet have formal confirmation of that. 

“The causes and motivations behind this incident are not yet known. It is important that the relevant authorities are given the space to establish the facts and avoid speculation until the investigation is complete.” 

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed this morning that the plane was forced to make an emergency landing after one of the pilots tried to crash it and kill all onboard. 

In a video, Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed another pilot. 

The Aviation Herald said passengers reported that a fight broke out in the cockpit, with one pilot stabbing the other with a knife. 

Cabin crew, off-duty pilots and passengers managed to get through the cockpit door and overcome the knifeman, who was pinned against the floor, the website reported. 

The airline said another “on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight ... diverted and landed the aircraft safely”. 

Passenger, Almog Itali, said in a video posted by the BBC that two relief pilots were on board, who were meant to fly the next flight. 

“The relief pilots are European, one of them British, who entered [the cockpit] and pulled the aircraft up, pulled the yoke, stabilised the plane and landed us in Saudi Arabia,” Itali said in the clip. 

The craft, with 174 passengers onboard, landed in Saudi Arabia. 

Jerusalem Post reported a passenger claimed Israeli citizens “rushed to the cockpit and fought the attacker” while the plane was plummeting. 

They claimed two other pilots seated at the back “initially appeared shocked”. 

“I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane,” the passenger told Jerusalem News. 

According to the passenger, one of the passengers took control of the aircraft, while the other “took longer to recover from the shock”. 

Netanyahu said the pilot who allegedly stabbed his colleague was being interrogated by Saudi authorities. 

New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association have been approached for comment.