Flydubai Passenger Drafts Final Texts Before Hijacking Attempt
Mika Bauman, a 25-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, sent farewell messages to her family while aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 as it plummeted following a co-pilot attack. The aircraft dropped 17,000 feet after the co-pilot stabbed the captain in an attempt to crash the plane. Despite the chaos, the captain survived the attack and unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. An Israeli passenger temporarily took control of the aircraft, enabling it to level out and land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, saving 174 lives. The co-pilot, an Omani national, has been transferred to the UAE for terrorism-related questioning.