Flydubai plane makes emergency landing after co-pilot tries to crash jetliner
Netanyahu: Pilot tried to crash plane full of Israeli's
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a pilot on a flight from Dubai to Israel stabbed the other pilot and 'apparently' attempted to crash the aircraft but was overpowered by passengers and crew members.
An Israel-bound passenger plane had to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after the co-pilot reportedly stabbed the captain in what may have been an attempted "terror attack," officials told Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Flydubai co-pilot was apparently trying to crash the jetliner. Passengers and crew members were able to subdue the attacker before safely landing in Saudi Arabia.
Co-pilot may have attempted ‘terror attack’
What we know:
Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed the plane’s captain while the plane was in the air, about two and a half hours after the flight left Dubai and headed to Tel Aviv. The plane dropped 17,000 feet in altitude in just two minutes over Jordanian airspace.
A flydubai flight bound for Dubai is seen before taking off from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. A passenger on a rerouted flydubai flight that was bound for Tel Aviv said one of the pilots tried to crash the plane and kill ev
According to the BBC, the plane sent an emergency signal and then a hijacking warning shortly after the rapid descent, prompting Israel to scramble warplanes.
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What they're saying:
"Everyone on the plane was screaming, the overhead compartments opened, and the power went out," a passenger told Fox News Digital. "We were sure we were going to die. It was very scary."
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Israeli plane diverted after hijacking scare
A cockpit incident onboard an Israeli plane lead to a hijacking scare causing the plane to be diverted. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office says "The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel."
Passengers unharmed
Both the captain and the co-pilot were taken to the hospital, authorities said. All 170 passengers were unharmed and accounted for.
Israeli officials told Reuters that the suspected attacker is an Omani national.
What we don't know:
The motive for the attack is still unclear. It's also unclear how the passenger and crew managed to get into the FlyDubai cockpit since aircraft doors are reinforced to withstand attempts to break them down.
The cockpit door on all aircraft is locked during flight for security reasons — a measure that became the industry standard after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The Source: This report includes information from Reuters, The Associated Press, BBC and Fox News Digital.