Pilot Arrested After Mid-Air Cockpit Stabbing on Israel-Bound Flight

UPDATE - follow-up to Israel-bound flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia; pilots injured, hospitalised: A co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 stabbed a fellow pilot in the cockpit and attempted to crash the jetliner carrying around 170 to 180 people on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Passengers and crew members subdued the attacker, and the aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

What Happened

The flight took off from the United Arab Emirates heading to Tel Aviv. Roughly two and a half hours into the trip, the aircraft made an abrupt descent from 33,000 feet down to 17,000 feet in about a minute near the Jordanian border. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the transponder switched to emergency codes 7700 and 7500 for unlawful interference. Israel scrambled warplanes over hijacking fears as the jet made an erratic circle before diverting to Tabuk. Both the captain and first officer sustained injuries, while video footage showed bloodied men on the floor and passengers weeping in panic. Passenger Naama Bershadski recalled thinking they were going to die, while Yasmin Abukasis reported hearing calls for help from her daughter on board.

Reaction and Arrest

Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot, who an official identified as an Omani national. Prime Minister Netanyahu praised those who intervened, stating they saved many lives and prevented a major disaster. flydubai confirmed an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that the aircraft was secured by on-duty crew before landing safely. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo expressed amazement that the plane did not come apart during the extreme descent, noting severe damage to the rudder. Passengers received medical attention from local authorities in Saudi Arabia, and a plane carrying the travelers later landed in Israel to cheers.

Context

This incident occurred just a week before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, amid heightened security alerts in the region. Although Saudi Arabia and Israel do not share formal diplomatic ties, the kingdom ended its ban on Israeli overflights in 2022 and has coordinated emergency landings for Israeli passengers in the past.