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PaperclipPerfector  14hr ago (text post)   268 thread views

Transnational Thursday for October 1, 2026

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

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I'm surprised no one's talking about yesterday's attempted plane hijacking in the Middle East. Via the BBC:

A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after one pilot stabbed the other and “apparently tried to crash the plane”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

The pilot was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities, Netanyahu added.

The stabbed pilot, identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, was taken to hospital after the flight landed and later called a “hero” by the Israeli prime minister.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has called the incident an “attempted jihadist terror attack”. The BBC is yet to receive official statements from police, emergency services, or investigators regarding any motive.

Apparently the stabbed pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to storm inside and seize the would-be hijacker (the passengers obviously being alarmed by the plane plummeting 14,000 feet in 30 seconds). One passenger managed to take over the controls and land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. I've heard unconfirmed reports that Saudi Arabia initially refused to let the plane land within its borders and instructed the pilot to land in Jordan, before finally relenting.

Western media outlets are variously referring to the incident as an "altercation", "fight" or "brawl" between pilots, rather than as a foiled act of jidahi terrorism.

It seems like he was intent on crashing that plane, with no survivors. But I have to wonder: was getting caught part of his plan?

It would be extremely painful.

You have received a grade of D on your assignment. Why are you referring to his getting caught as a hypothetical when it actually happened? Far better responses include "I think it was extremely painful" (referring to his defeat on the plane) and "I think it will be extremely painful" (referring to his punishment, whether judicial or extrajudicial, in Israeli or Saudi prison).

Yeah, he's now in the hands of UAE security, so "extremely painful" will likely describe his experience for a while.

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