Oman Copilot Stabs Captain on FlyDubai Flight to Israel, Passengers Save Plane

Oman copilot stabs captain on FlyDubai flight to Israel, passengers intervene to prevent disaster. Investigation into motive ongoing.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Jerusalem, Israel — A pilot on a FlyDubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv was stabbed by his co-pilot, causing the plane to descend sharply and forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The motive behind the attack remains unknown as investigators work to determine what led to the incident.

The incident occurred when the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, reportedly attacked the captain during the flight, leading to a chaotic situation in the cockpit. Passengers intervened to stop the attack, helping to stabilize the aircraft and prevent a potential crash. The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a dangerous descent that saw it drop from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in about a minute.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the incident and stated that the suspect is under arrest. He also mentioned that Israel is working with Saudi authorities and other countries to investigate the motive behind the attack. The UAE government has begun its own investigation to determine if the incident was linked to any terrorist activity. The Indian captain, who was injured, is reported to be in stable condition, while the co-pilot’s status remains unclear.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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