Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett credited the quick-thinking actions of passengers and crew with thwarting what officials are investigating as a possible terrorist attack Wednesday after an alleged cockpit stabbing sent an Israel-bound passenger plane into a nosedive."This wasn't a miracle, it was an act of heroism by the passengers and of the Emirati crew," Bennett told "The Faulkner Focus.""It's people who saved the day, people who showed courage, who didn't stand passively but took action, and I'm so darn proud to be Israeli today," he added.UNITED FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER PASSENGER'S 'MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS' TO BREACH COCKPITFormer Israeli Prime Minister and head of the newly merged Together party Naftali Bennett speaks at a press conference at the Israeli parliament on May 20, 2026, in Jerusalem.(Amir Levy/Getty Images)The original flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia where the passengers were transferred to another plane.
Those who were aboard during the incident later arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.Bennett thanked Saudi authorities for allowing the aircraft to make an emergency landing and caring for those on board while they were on the ground.Though details are still emerging, Bennett cited Israeli authorities in detailing that the flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot with a pocketknife and tried to bring down the aircraft, sending it into a steep descent.That's when, Bennett said, Israeli passengers sprang into action.RETIRED POLICE CHIEF HELPS SUBDUE PASSENGER AFTER ALLEGED MIDAIR OUTBURST OVER ALCOHOL CUTOFFPassengers who experienced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, during a flight on FlyDubai plane, arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday, Sept.30.
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)"A couple of passengers, Israeli citizens, jumped into the cockpit," he said."They took over the alleged terrorist, pulled hi...