Israel-Bound flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Stabbing and Rapid Descent

An Israel-bound commercial flight operated by flydubai was forced to make an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after an in-flight altercation in the cockpit resulted in a pilot being stabbed. The aircraft, carrying roughly 170 to 180 people—including around 160 Israeli citizens—landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a tense ordeal that prompted Israel to briefly scramble warplanes over hijacking concerns.

According to reports and official statements, the incident began roughly two and a half hours after the flight departed from Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the jetliner abruptly descending from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (approximately 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters) in about a minute. The aircraft then executed an erratic circle near the Jordanian border before heading toward Tabuk, where it made a distress call at 8:44 a.m. local time and landed safely at 9:45 a.m.

Aviation safety expert and former United Airlines pilot Steve Arroyo noted the severity of the descent, stating that the extreme aerodynamic forces ripped away most of the rudder on the aircraft's tail, though the plane miraculously held together.

An Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity stated that a violent physical struggle broke out between two pilots in the flight deck, with one armed with a knife. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited passengers and crew members with saving many lives and preventing a major disaster by intervening. According to statements cited by Netanyahu and a person familiar with a probe by Saudi Arabia and regional partners, members of the Israeli security forces and air marshals were among the passengers who broke into the cockpit as the plane began to dive, helping to subdue the attacker while other crew members took over piloting duties.

Video footage circulating on social media showed bloodied and wounded individuals on the cabin floor, while passengers recounted moments of terror. Passenger Naama Bershadski recalled praying for survival, while other passengers captured audio and video of the aircraft shaking and people weeping. The airport in Tabuk and regional officials confirmed that both the captain and first officer sustained injuries and received medical attention from local authorities alongside affected passengers.

Prime Minister Netanyahu framed the event in a stern political context, pointing to heightened regional security tensions as Israel approaches the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and an upcoming election. Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued sharp remarks regarding the attack, describing the incident as a reminder of ongoing threats.

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the incident from the Oval Office, stating that he had spoken at length with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the event. President Trump noted that the exact motive remained under investigation, remarking that the co-pilot's actions pointed toward potential extremist or erratic behavior.

Official reactions and investigative steps unfolded quickly across multiple jurisdictions. flydubai confirmed in a statement that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that on-duty crew secured the aircraft before diverting to safety. In response to the emergency, flydubai announced the immediate suspension of all flights to and from Tel Aviv while regional authorities and investigators work to establish the full facts surrounding the cockpit attack. Saudi authorities arrested the suspect pilot, though his identity and formal charges had not been immediately released by local officials.

The emergency landing highlighted complex regional dynamics. While Saudi Arabia and Israel do not share formal diplomatic ties, the kingdom opened its airspace to Israeli overflights in 2022 and has previously coordinated emergency landings for Israeli travelers, reflecting shifting regional aviation corridors since the 2020 normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.