TABUK, Saudi Arabia — A pilot on an Israel-bound Flydubai flight stabbed his co-pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft before being subdued by passengers and crew, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed.
The incident occurred aboard a Boeing 737 Max 8 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Flight tracking data reveals that during the cockpit struggle, the aircraft transmitted transponder code 7500—the international signal for unlawful interference or hijacking—and plunged 17,400 feet in under two minutes. The dramatic loss of altitude prompted the Israeli Air Force to temporarily scramble fighter jets.
According to passenger testimonies provided to Israeli media, screams erupted through the cabin as the plane dipped sharply out of control. Passengers reported seeing blood near the cockpit before several individuals rushed to assist crew members in subduing the attacker.
“There were moments I truly believed we were not going to make it out alive,” one passenger told Israeli news outlets.
Saudi authorities arrested the assailant immediately upon landing, and both pilots were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Israeli and regional security agencies are currently investigating whether the act was a personal dispute or a pre-meditated attempt at terrorism.
