Passengers on flydubai Flight 1073 are preparing legal action seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from the airline, Israel, and other parties.
The move follows a September 29 incident on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route involving an alleged co-pilot attack and an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
About 100 of the flight's 174 passengers have authorized a committee to coordinate potential claims, according to Calcalist.
The remaining passengers have not decided whether to join the group or pursue compensation separately.
The committee is led by Tzvika Manes, CEO of Bank Leumi's underwriting arm, who helped restrain the attacker during the flight.
Members are consulting Israeli and international law firms before choosing legal representation, Calcalist reported.
The committee also includes Tal Eisenberg, a Singapore-based lawyer, along with Daniel Schlichter, Itay Perlman, and Shir Maor, who were passengers on the aircraft.
The passengers formed a WhatsApp group after the aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport, where around 70 members asked Manes and other passengers to coordinate the legal effort.
Potential defendants include Israel's Ministry of Transportation and possibly transportation authorities in the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Calcalist reported that the passengers are examining the legal implications of an alleged hijacking attempt involving a struggle in the cockpit and a dive toward the ground.
They are also reviewing aviation provisions connected to the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE.
According to News18, legal experts have estimated possible compensation of $200,000 to $250,000 per passenger.
If all 174 passengers received the maximum estimated amount, the total could reach $43.5 million before legal fees and other costs.
The flight departed from Dubai on September 29.
During the incident, passengers helped stabilize the aircraft, restrained the co-pilot, assisted the injured captain, and supported another pilot traveling as a passenger in landing the plane in Saudi Arabia, according to Calcalist.
