As confirmed by Israeli officials, the aircraft was piloted by a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, who was the captain, and a second pilot from Oman. Increasing evidence suggests that the second pilot intended to take control of the aircraft and deliberately provoke a disaster with passengers on board. However, while authorities rule out the version of a standard hijacking, it has been revealed that the emergency on board arose from a violent fight in the cockpit. It is believed that the confrontation began due to a desperate attempt to prevent the second pilot from carrying out a terrorist act. Israeli authorities classify the second pilot from Oman as a terrorist. Saudi authorities are currently interrogating the suspect. According to passengers, the pilots lost control, and as a result of the confrontation in the cockpit, the shirts of several individuals were stained with blood. A disaster was averted only because there were two additional pilots among the passengers – a Ukrainian and a Russian. "Reports indicate that the additional pilot crew – a Russian and a Ukrainian – were traveling as passengers and ultimately managed to safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia," the statement notes. All data about the FlyDubai crews is currently being thoroughly checked. At the same time, Israel has decided to send an evacuation flight to Saudi Arabia to pick up stranded citizens, awaiting approval from Riyadh. There were 170 people on board the aircraft from Israel.
