Pilot stabbed colleague on flydubai flight en route to Tel Aviv, passengers intervene
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a pilot attacked a co-pilot, prompting a passenger and crew member to subdue the assailant and stabilize the aircraft.
A flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a pilot stabbed his co-pilot in the cockpit, according to Israeli officials. Passengers and crew members broke into the cockpit, restrained the attacker and helped keep the plane under control, preventing a crash. The aircraft landed safely with no reported injuries among the passengers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a passenger described the intervention and praised the individuals involved, calling them "heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an "attempted jihadist terrorist attack."
Saudi authorities arrested the suspected attacker and are questioning him, while the airline confirmed an altercation occurred in the flight deck and said the motive was unknown pending investigation. The flight's captain and first officer were taken to a hospital for treatment, and the airline arranged for aircraft to transport the passengers from Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv.
Flydubai said it is cooperating with investigations, and Saudi airport operator Cluster2 said relevant authorities are conducting inquiries into the incident.