Hijacking scare on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight after cockpit stabbing

Sep 30, 2026

A FlyDubai flight to Israel plunged thousands of feet and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a bloody fight in the cockpit, a frightening event for passengers and a warning sign for airlines across the Middle East.

  • Passengers say the co-pilot stabbed the captain, who collapsed onto the controls and knocked out the instrument panel.
  • The plane dropped tens of thousands of feet in about two minutes, faster than it was built to handle, and damaged its wing and flight controls.
  • Crew and passengers forced their way into the cockpit and pinned the attacker down; the captain was critically hurt.
  • Israel scrambled fighter jets fearing a hijacking, and Netanyahu's office later said the situation was under control.
  • Israeli authorities are treating it as a suspected terror attack, and the attacker's motive is still unknown.

Outlook: Expect tighter cockpit and crew screening and more suspended routes between Israel and the Gulf while investigators work out what happened.

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