A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent confrontation between two pilots in the cockpit, in an incident Israeli officials described as a possible terror attack.
The aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Israel when the emergency unfolded at about 1.20am Eastern Time on Wednesday. It subsequently made a sharp descent of 17,400ft in almost two minutes.
A passenger alleged that the co-pilot stabbed the captain, who then fell on to the controls and caused the sudden drop. The account has not been confirmed by authorities.
At 1.44am, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk received a distress call from the aircraft requesting permission to make an emergency landing.
The airport declared a state of emergency and the plane landed safely around an hour later.
The captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital for treatment, while passengers received medical attention in the terminal. One of the pilots was reported to be from Oman, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Authorities have not yet issued an official account of what happened inside the cockpit.
