Jerusalem: A serious mid-air security incident unfolded aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday after an alleged physical confrontation between the two pilots. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and then apparently attempted to crash the aircraft, prompting passengers and other crew members to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe emergency landing.
The flight, FZ1073, was carrying more than 170 people, with Israeli officials putting the number at 172 passengers and crew, including 169 Israeli citizens. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft undergoing a dramatic descent during the incident, with reports indicating it lost roughly 14,000–17,000 feet within a very short period. The precise figures vary depending on the flight-tracking measurement and time interval used.
Netanyahu says co-pilot tried to bring down aircraft
In a video statement, Netanyahu said the incident occurred as the aircraft was approaching Israel. According to his account, one pilot attacked and stabbed the other before apparently attempting to take control of the aircraft in a way that could have resulted in a crash.
Netanyahu’s Flydubai Account Raises MAJOR Questions
Netanyahu says one pilot stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane, but one detail needs explaining.
He claims a pilot and crew member somehow “managed to BREAK INTO THE COCKPIT” and restrain the attacker.
Commercial… pic.twitter.com/qzL9U4f9tn
— AfrikTimes (@afriktimesint) September 30, 2026
Netanyahu said he had spoken with an Israeli passenger who entered the cockpit after the aircraft began its sudden descent and helped confront the pilot. Passengers and other crew members reportedly managed to restrain the attacker, allowing other qualified pilots aboard the aircraft to regain control.
The dramatic account has not yet been independently established in full. Saudi and Israeli authorities are investigating the incident, while the exact motive remains unclear. Flydubai itself has described the episode as an “altercation” in the flight deck and has cautioned against premature conclusions while the investigation continues.
Aircraft makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
After the cockpit incident, the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Airport authorities said the plane landed at about 9:45 a.m. local time and that both pilots were taken to hospital for treatment.
The aircraft reportedly transmitted emergency signals during the crisis. Flight-tracking information also showed a sudden and substantial loss of altitude. Flightradar24 provides flight-history information for FZ1073, confirming the Dubai–Tel Aviv service involved in the incident.
Passengers intervene as plane plunges
Passengers described a chaotic scene inside the aircraft. According to accounts reported by several media outlets, passengers moved toward the cockpit after realizing that something was seriously wrong and helped subdue the alleged attacker.
One passenger, Miryam Shira Ohayon, told reporters that the aircraft appeared to be out of control during the confrontation and that passengers feared an imminent crash. Other accounts said passengers and crew members provided first aid to the injured pilot while the aircraft was being brought under control.
Reports also said that off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft helped operate the plane after the cockpit struggle. The aircraft was ultimately landed safely at Tabuk.
Co-pilot arrested; motive remains under investigation
Reuters reported that the co-pilot was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities following the emergency landing. Israeli officials have raised the possibility that the incident could have been an attempted terrorist attack, but investigators have not publicly established a definitive motive.
Some Israeli officials have described the episode as a possible terror incident, while other possibilities remain under investigation. Authorities have therefore not yet provided a final explanation for why the cockpit confrontation occurred.
Israel considers tighter aviation security
The incident has triggered fresh security concerns in Israel. Reuters reported that Israel planned to intensify security checks on pilots operating flights into the country following the incident. Officials are examining existing screening and vetting procedures as investigators seek to establish how the confrontation began and whether it was deliberate.
Flydubai said that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for and that replacement aircraft were being arranged to assist passengers affected by the diversion. The airline said the underlying reasons and motives for the incident remained unknown and were subject to a formal investigation.
Investigation continues
The incident has raised significant questions about cockpit security, pilot screening and the circumstances that led to the alleged assault. However, several key details—including the precise sequence of events, the motive and how control of the aircraft was regained—remain subject to investigation.
For now, the established outcome is that flydubai flight FZ1073 was diverted from its Dubai–Tel Aviv route and landed safely in Tabuk after a serious cockpit altercation. No passenger fatalities were reported, while both pilots received medical treatment.
