We crossed Jordan border and then...: Man narrates 4-mins flydubai ordeal

A passenger aboard a flydubai flight involved in a violent cockpit incident described the aircraft's sudden descent as being "like a roller coaster" and hailed the injured Indian captain, who overpowered the attacker co-pilot, as a "true hero".

Amog Italie was travelling on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on September 30 when the aircraft carrying several Israeli citizens plunged nearly 14,000 feet after the Omani co-pilot attacked the captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national. The incident is being investigated to determine whether it was a terrorist attack, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was an attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight.

The flight was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia's Tabuk after passengers entered the cockpit, overpowered the co-pilot and helped two other flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers take control of the aircraft and land it safely.

"First, I would like to wish a fast recovery to our joint hero, the pilot. He's a true hero. We are so, so proud of him, and we wish him a fast recovery," Italie said.

According to the passenger, the flight had been normal for about two hours before the aircraft suddenly began losing altitude, immediately after it crossed the Jordan border.

"I was looking down and suddenly the airplane started to, like a roller coaster, dropping down very fast, very rapidly, like about 20-30 seconds. It was very surprising," he said.

The passenger said he initially believed the aircraft was experiencing turbulence. However, the plane stabilised before beginning another sudden descent.

"I was thinking that we are into turbulence, but apparently it wasn't the turbulence," Italie narrated. "The airplane got balanced and then once again started to drop down for 15 seconds and got balanced."

Italie, who was seated towards the rear of the aircraft near the wing, said passengers initially had no idea what was happening. After several minutes of uncertainty, they were informed about the situation inside the cockpit.

"After three or four minutes of uncertainty, we came to know that one of the pilots stabbed the other and the crew member, along with the passenger, took over," he added.

The passenger said those onboard were later told that control of the aircraft had been regained and that another pilot was flying the plane towards Saudi Arabia for a safe landing.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Despite the frightening situation, Italie said most passengers remained calm and did not panic.

"Most of the passengers were calm, were relaxed. This is the way to control and to behave in such kind of situation," he said.

He said passengers did not rush or create further chaos inside the aircraft.

"If you want to control the situation, you have to stay calm, and this is what saved our lives," Italie said.

"The 34 passengers who took over. No panic, no rushing. Everyone stayed in their own seats, and this is what basically saved our life," he added.

The passengers later reached Israel aboard a replacement flydubai aircraft, more than 10 hours after the ordeal began.

According to Israeli officials, 174 people were aboard the flight. The co-pilot was taken into Saudi custody, while both pilots were hospitalised after sustaining injuries.

The motive behind the incident remained under investigation. flydubai said the reasons for the incident were not yet known and urged against "premature speculation". The airline described the event as an "altercation" in the cockpit, after which the flight diverted to Tabuk and landed safely.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will get to the "root" of the co-pilot who engaged in a foiled attempt to crash an Israel-bound flydubai flight and that Israel will "possibly" be participating in the probe into the incident.