Investigation Underway After FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Attacks Captain Mid-Flight

Authorities investigate a violent mid-flight incident involving a FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Dubai, UAE — Authorities are working to uncover the identity and motives of a FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger jet during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred as the aircraft neared Israeli airspace, prompting a mid-air struggle that forced an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot attacked the flight captain with a knife. The captain successfully defended himself and managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and subdue the assailant.

Two off-duty pilots traveling on the flight stepped in to take control of the aircraft, ensuring a safe landing. There were 174 individuals on board, and while the captain suffered stab wounds, no passengers sustained serious injuries.

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Saudi officials confirmed that two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries following the event. The co-pilot was taken into custody immediately and remains under interrogation by Saudi authorities.

While the co-pilot has not been publicly identified, Israeli officials have characterized the event as a targeted act. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that information gathered during questioning suggests the co-pilot underwent Islamist radical indoctrination, though he provided no further details.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled the event an attempted jihadist terror attack, referring to the co-pilot as a terrorist. Netanyahu indicated that Israeli officials intend to participate in the ongoing interrogation process to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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