FlyDubai Midair Attack, Trump Midterm Campaigning, Hegseth Reshaping Military

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A flight bound for Israel was forced to take an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a fight in a cockpit.

Michelle Martin (0:32)

Israeli officials say one pilot stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane, but why?

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I'm E. Martinez, that is Michel Martin, and this is Up First from NPR News. President Trump promised to campaign in the toughest midterm races. Today, he's going to Oklahoma, the state where his party dominates. Would he help or hurt Republicans in the real battleground states?

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And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he wants to cut even more generals and admirals. He told junior officers he's remaking the military around what he calls a warrior ethos. What does his leadership purge mean for a military already seven months into a war with Iran? Stay with us, we'll give you news you need to start your day.

Passengers on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv are describing what happened on board a FlyDubai airplane that caused them to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

A Martínez (1:26)

The plane signaled a distress call on Wednesday after one of the pilots apparently stabbed the other pilot and seen be trying to crash the plane with everyone on board. Many of the passengers were Israelis and officials in Israel are calling it an attempted terrorist attack, although the motive is still unknown.

Michelle Martin (1:41)

NPR's Kat Lonsdorf is with us now from Tel Aviv. Good morning, Kat.

Kat Lonsdorf (1:44)

Hey, good morning.

Michelle Martin (1:45)

It sounds like a really harrowing situation on that plane. What can you tell us?

Kat Lonsdorf (1:50)

So yeah, like you said, the plane was operated by FlyDubai. That's an airline based in the UAE. There's still a lot we don't know, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put out a statement after speaking with some of the passengers who told him that the plane went into a spin and began to plunge as one of the pilots was trying to sabotage the aircraft systems after stabbing his co-pilot. He said some passengers sprang into action and were able to enter the cockpit after the pilot who was stabbed unlocked the cockpit door during the attack. Those passengers managed to subdue the attacker. Israeli officials released a video of Netanyahu talking to one of those passengers, a man named Yaniv Hayun. Once he landed back in Israel, Hayun's clothes were still covered in blood in the video.

He described how he put the attacker in a chokehold and pulled the plane's controls up to try to ride it. Hayun says he's a plumber, but he thought to do that after seeing it in a TV show.

He also said that there happened to be another flight crew on the plane who jumped in to help land it.

Michelle Martin (2:48)

That's incredible. You were at the airport in Tel Aviv last night. As the passengers arrived there, what was that like?

Kat Lonsdorf (2:55)

Yeah, it was really hectic. The arrivals area was filled with journalists and family members. The passengers slowly emerged dragging their suitcases behind them. Some were crying, some smiling, looking relieved, and some just looked really tired. There were also quite a few families with children. I talked to one passenger named Dan Zoller. He was traveling with his wife and two small children on the flight. He confirmed a lot of what Netanyahu said, that he saw three other passengers throw themselves on that copilot who was attacking his colleague to capture him. And he said he was trying to just distract his son during the incident, to tell him that what was happening wasn't normal.

Dan Zoller (3:30)

I told him that it's something that happened once in 25 years. I want him to be calm. And we are happy to come back.

Kat Lonsdorf (3:39)

That seemed like the overwhelming feeling from people, just happy to have two feet back on solid ground.

Michelle Martin (3:45)

Yeah, I hear people, I think, singing in the background, I think, to welcome people back. Do we know anything about the co-pilot who carried out this attack?

Kat Lonsdorf (3:55)

We don't know much. Both the pilot and the co-pilot are alive. They're being interviewed by investigators in Saudi Arabia. The UAE has also opened an investigation, and Netanyahu has said Israel will be involved. The pilot who was stabbed is from India. Both Netanyahu and India's prime minister have commended him. And the co-pilot who did the attacking is from Oman. It's still unclear if he was acting alone.