A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following what Israeli officials and the airline described as a violent altercation between the pilots. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, a pilot stabbed the captain while the aircraft was over Jordan. Passengers and off-duty crew members intervened to subdue the attacker, and the plane landed at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred on Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 Max 8. Israeli passengers and flight tracking data reported the aircraft descended more than 17,000 feet in approximately two minutes during the struggle. Netanyahu stated the attacker was arrested by Saudi authorities and that a secondary crew on board stabilized the flight. The plane later continued to Tel Aviv, arriving shortly before 8 p.m. local time.
Israeli officials provided varying initial assessments of the event. Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized it as an "attempted jihadist terror attack," and security agencies are investigating the possibility of a terror plot. However, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office, stated that the incident was not believed to be a hijacking, describing it instead as a "different incident." Flydubai issued a statement confirming an "altercation" and urged against premature speculation while a formal investigation is conducted.
The flight was diverted to Tabuk, a civilian airport adjacent to a Saudi military base, requiring coordination between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The Israeli military scrambled warplanes in response to the emergency, and the Prime Minister focused on managing the crisis. The event is a rare instance of a cockpit-based security threat involving airline staff, prompting Israeli authorities to prepare for potential additional threats to interests abroad.
What happens next: The pilot, who Israeli sources identified as an Omani national, remains in Saudi custody. Flydubai and Saudi authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. Two replacement aircraft were deployed to Tabuk to transport the passengers and crew. Future security protocols for flights entering Israeli airspace may be reviewed pending the outcome of the assessment by security agencies.
(Note: Flydubai is a government-owned low-cost carrier based in the UAE.)