Pilot Stabs Colleague on Flydubai Flight Bound for Israel, Plane Diverts to Saudi Arabia

Pilot stabbed colleague on flydubai flight to Israel, plane diverted to Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu confirms incident and arrests suspect.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Tabuk, Saudi Arabia — A pilot on a flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel allegedly stabbed a colleague and attempted to crash the aircraft carrying approximately 170 passengers, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The incident occurred on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), with passengers and crew managing to subdue the attacker. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the pilot involved was arrested. No immediate details about the suspect’s identity were released by authorities.

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Passengers described the chaos as the aircraft suddenly dropped thousands of feet in altitude before making an erratic route near the Jordanian border. Israeli warplanes scrambled in response to concerns about a potential hijacking. Netanyahu praised those who intervened, calling them heroes who prevented a major disaster. The captain and first officer were injured, while passengers received medical attention upon landing.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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