A FlyDubai flight heading from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following a violent cockpit struggle. Israeli officials and passengers reported that one of the pilots attempted to seize control of the aircraft in an apparent effort to crash it.
According to a video statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot stabbed the other as the aircraft neared Israel and attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board. Netanyahu commended the quick action of the passengers and crew members who intervened, adding that he has instructed the country’s security establishment to prepare for potential additional threats. According to israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in a social media post on Wednesday,, “the naive notion that our enemies value life and that we should have mercy on them received another reminder this morning in the form of a terrorist who planned to crash a plane and murder the 180 Israelis on board.
An Israeli security official indicated that authorities are investigating whether the incident was an attempted Sept. 11-style terror attack and are looking into whether the perpetrator acted alone. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the event as a thwarted jihadist terror attack, stating it was prevented due to the heroism of several Israeli passengers who forced their way into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and handed control over to an additional flight crew member on board.
The Boeing 737 Max 8, operating as FlyDubai flight 1073, diverted to Tabuk, landing at a civilian airport adjacent to a Saudi military base. No passengers were injured, but the pilot who was attacked suffered stab wounds. Saudi authorities reported that two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries. Netanyahu stated that the pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon described the aircraft as being “pretty much out of control” over Jordan during the altercation. She explained that the co-pilot attempted to murder the pilot to carry out a suicide attack, and the plane was on its way to crashing before passengers neutralized him. Ohayon added that a doctor on board provided first aid to those injured. And people who treated both of them, there was also a doctor who gave first aid.
Another passenger reported that those on board shouted for two off-duty pilots sitting in the back of the cabin to run and take control of the plane. One of those pilots stepped in after passengers managed to remove the assailant from the cockpit. Israeli sources told the Jerusalem Post that the suspected attacker is an Omani national, though this has not been officially confirmed by Israeli or Saudi authorities.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft transmitted an emergency alert shortly after takeoff and plummeted more than 17,000 feet within two minutes around 8:21 a.m. local time. In a statement, FlyDubai confirmed only that an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and that the plane was successfully secured by on-duty crew members traveling on the flight before safely landing in Saudi Arabia. The airline noted that all passengers and crew were safe, and two replacement aircraft were sent to Tabuk, though some Israeli passengers expressed reluctance to board another FlyDubai flight. The airline urged parties to avoid premature speculation while a formal investigation is underway.
During the incident, Israel scrambled warplanes due to fears of a potential hijacking, according to an official cited by the Associated Press. Netanyahu had previously warned of heightened security threats to Israel amid its ongoing military operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. FlyDubai is the low-cost sister carrier of Emirates, and the UAE has become a popular destination for Israeli tourists since the normalization of relations in 2020. FlyDubai is the lower-cost sister carrier of the United Arab Emirates state-owned flagship carrier Emirates airlines.
Official Reactions and Perspectives
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu“As they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board.”
- Defense Minister Israel KatzDescribed the incident as “an attempted jihadist terror attack” thwarted by heroic passengers.
- Politician Benny GantzStated on X that while it is too early to know the full sequence of events, “the resourcefulness and courage displayed by the passengers… are exactly the stuff our people are made of.”
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-GvirShared on social media that the incident serves as a reminder of the nature of their adversaries.
- U.S. Ambassador Mike HuckabeeNoted on Wednesday that the event had the Middle East on “FULL ALERT” and expressed relief that it was not more serious.
Important Details
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