Pilot stabs co-pilot, alleged attempts to crash flight carrying Israelis

Passengers embark on a FlyDubai aircraft at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo-Ariel Schalit)

A pilot on a FlyDubai flight carrying dozens of Israelis from the United Arab Emirates allegedly stabbed the other pilot and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft on Wednesday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Passengers and crew members overpowered the attacker, allowing the aircraft to make an emergency landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The captain and first officer were injured, according to the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

The flight issued an emergency alert and descended sharply from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet within a minute before making an erratic turn near the Jordanian border, according to Flightradar24.

Netanyahu said a passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit as the aircraft began to descend and regained control, while other passengers and crew subdued the attacker. Israeli security personnel and air marshals were also among those who intervened, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Israel scrambled fighter jets amid fears of a possible hijacking. FlyDubai confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and said the aircraft was secured by crew members, who diverted and landed safely.

Saudi authorities arrested one pilot, Netanyahu said, though the identity was not immediately disclosed. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment.

The incident comes days before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, amid heightened security concerns in the country. - Agency