KATZ: FLYDUBAI PLANE INCIDENT WAS ATTEMPTED TERRORIST ATTACK

TEL AVIV, SEPTEMBER 30 /SRNA/ - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the incident involving a Flydubai aircraft on a flight to Tel Aviv was an attempted terrorist attack and that the attacker had one goal - to bring down the plane.

He recalled that almost all of the 150 passengers on board were Israeli citizens and that the co-pilot, who attacked the captain before attempting to take control of the aircraft, was an Omani citizen.

Earlier in the day, a Flydubai aircraft flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent a distress signal and later made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The airline later confirmed that an incident had occurred during the flight when the co-pilot attacked the pilot with a knife in an attempt to take control of the aircraft carrying more than 100 passengers from Israel.