30 September,2026 10:03 PM IST | Tel Aviv | mid-day online correspondent
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger he spoke to, along with a crew member, managed to stop the pilot while he was allegedly attempting to damage the aircraft’s systems. PIC/X
Israel Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said evidence indicated that one of the pilots on a flydubai flight stabbed his fellow pilot and allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft.
The Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport following an altercation in the cockpit, news agency ANI reported. Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger he spoke to, along with a crew member, managed to stop the pilot while he was allegedly attempting to damage the aircraft's systems.
In a video statement, as reported by The Times of Israel, Netanyahu described the incident as "an extremely serious security incident".
He said another crew member subsequently entered the cockpit and managed to stabilise the aircraft.
Netanyahu said the suspect was being interrogated by Saudi authorities. He also said he "salutes the heroes" who saved the lives of passengers, according to The Times of Israel.
The prime minister also held a meeting with National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra and Military Secretary Maj Gen Guy Markizeno to discuss the incident.
Meanwhile, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an "attempted jihadist terrorist attack thwarted only through the bravery of several Israeli passengers", Fox News reported.
"The terrorist had one intention: to crash the aircraft with everyone on board," Katz said.
The incident prompted the aircraft to issue an "unlawful interference" signal and was apparently caused by an altercation between the pilots, The Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli security sources.
An Israeli official said a "severe disaster" had been averted as the flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport amid the reported cockpit altercation, Israel's Channel 12 reported.
Citing Channel 12, The Times of Israel reported that a second team of pilots, who were in civilian clothes, made the landing. The outlet also reported that two passengers prevented one of the pilots from taking over the aircraft.
Meanwhile, a flydubai rescue flight from Saudi Arabia to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel took off, The Times of Israel reported, citing the Israel Airports Authority.
The incident remains under investigation, with details of the altercation and the sequence of events being reported by Israeli officials and media outlets as authorities continue to establish what happened aboard the flight.
(With ANI inputs)
