A Flydubai jet heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv was thrust into crisis when one of the pilots was stabbed in the cockpit. The assailant tried to take control of the aircraft, but the piloted was injured and unable to react. Unarmed passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and secured the cockpit. With decisive action, the plane was steered away from the intended route and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely with 174 people on board.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the injured pilot as a “true hero” who, despite being stabbed, helped maintain control and prevented a disaster. The Israeli Defence Minister called the incident a possible “attempted jihadist terror attack.” The airline has confirmed an altercation in the flight deck but has not yet revealed a motive.
Passengers who survived reported being shocked but relieved, as they later arrived in Tel Aviv to loud celebrations. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities from both Israel and Saudi Arabia working together to understand what happened.
