In brief
A Flydubai aircraft bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv suffered a violent breach when one pilot stabbed a colleague and allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft. While the jet fell 17,000 feet within two minutes, it was diverted to Saudi Arabia for safety. Crew and passengers described the incident, with videos shared on social media. The Israeli government has welcomed the report, and investigators are now working to trace the alleged motives behind the attack.
On an aircraft operated by Flydubai, two crew members entered into a violent confrontation that left one pilot wounded and the airline in a panic state. An eyewitness inside the passenger cabin filmed the event as the assailant stabbed the cockpit crew and then reportedly tried to push the plane into a rapid descent.
The jet was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when, within less than two minutes, it plummeted roughly 17,000 feet before the pilots managed to regain control and diverted for a landing in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers who were on board recounted the terrifying moments, with one man recording a plea for help that quickly spread across social media. The footage, uploaded to various platforms, has been used by authorities to corroborate the narrative presented by Israeli officials.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the crew for their actions and called the incident “a national tragedy.” The investigation is still ongoing; investigators are probing the pilot’s possible motives and whether it connected to the broader regional tensions.
