A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft, Benjamin Netanyahu said.
The Boeing 737 Max landed at Tabuk after an emergency that prompted Israel to scramble fighter jets and briefly close its airspace. All passengers were reported safe and accounted for.
Mr Netanyahu said crew members and passengers had entered the cockpit and stopped the attacker, allowing another crew member to stabilise the aircraft. The pilot suspected of carrying out the attack was arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
“I salute the heroes who demonstrated resourcefulness and extraordinary courage,” the Israeli prime minister said. “They saved many lives and averted a terrible disaster.”
He said he had spoken to a passenger and officials who told him one pilot had stabbed the other and appeared to have tried to bring down the plane. Israeli authorities were investigating whether the incident was an act of terror, while also considering the possibility of a mental health episode.
Passengers described hearing screams before the cockpit was opened and blood was seen inside. One passenger told Israeli media: “The pilot was stabbed. There were moments when we thought we weren’t going to make it out alive.”
Video shared by a passenger appeared to show the captain covered in blood while being supported by other passengers. Another crew member, possibly the other pilot, appeared to be tied up nearby and unconscious.
The owner of Tabuk Airport said the captain and co-pilot had been injured and taken to hospital. Flydubai said the aircraft had experienced “an incident while en route”, but gave no further details.
Flydubai flight diverted after emergency alert
The aircraft issued a 7700 emergency squawk before reportedly changing to the 7500 code used to indicate hijacking or unlawful interference. Flight-tracking data showed it had dropped about 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
The flight departed Dubai at 7.05am local time and initially travelled over the southern Persian Gulf before crossing Saudi Arabia. After about 90 minutes of emergency conditions, it turned away from Jordanian airspace and landed at Tabuk.
Mr Netanyahu held urgent consultations with senior officials, while the Israel Defence Forces chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, carried out an assessment with senior officers.
Israel’s prime minister’s office said the situation was under control and that measures were being taken to return the Israeli passengers safely. Flydubai was expected to send another aircraft to Saudi Arabia to take passengers on to Tel Aviv.
