A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia Wednesday morning after one of many pilots allegedly stabbed the opposite and tried to carry down the airplane, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officers mentioned.
The flight landed in Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, after being diverted.
The prime minister mentioned extra particulars in regards to the safety incident later within the day, saying in a video assertion that “Virtually all of the passengers on board had been Israelis.”
A picture from a video circulating on-line taken by a passenger inside a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Saudi Arabia, Sept. 30, 2026, after an incident befell contained in the cockpit.
Obtained by ABC Information
“One of many pilots stabbed the opposite and apparently tried to crash the airplane with everybody on it,” Netanyahu added. “I spoke with one of many Israeli passengers. He informed me that the airplane went right into a spin and started to dive.”
“He managed to interrupt into the cockpit with one of many crew members, and collectively they subdued the pilot who had dedicated the stabbing whereas he was making an attempt to sabotage the plane’s methods,” the prime minister continued. “One other flight crew member on board entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the airplane.”
“I salute the heroes on the flight from Dubai who demonstrated resourcefulness and braveness. I’ve instructed the safety institution to organize for potential further threats,” Netanyahu mentioned within the assertion.
A flight info show board reveals cancelled flights to Dubai, on the Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
Jack Guez/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz additionally praised the passengers who stepped up and famous in his assertion that investigation continues to be ongoing.
“In keeping with our preliminary info, the terrorist had a single goal: to crash the airplane, killing everybody on board,” he mentioned.
A repatriation flight was en-route, in accordance with the Israel Aviation Company.
The flight took off at 7:05 a.m. native time from Dubai, in accordance with Flightradar24.
A Flydubai plane sits on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport close to Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026.
Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock
Monitoring information confirmed the plane descended quickly from 34,000 to 16,000 toes in three minutes.
About 10 minutes after the preliminary descent, the airplane’s squawk code — utilized by plane to speak with air visitors management — modified to “basic emergency.” Seven minutes after that, the squawk code modified once more, indicating a hijacking or “illegal interference.”
Passengers queue on the flydubai counters in Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
Jack Guez/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The plane then continued to fly decrease at 15,000 toes on common till it landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, about an hour to an hour and a half after the fast descent started and the emergency alerts had been despatched.
FlyDubai confirmed that the flight “skilled an incident whereas en route,” and landed in Tabuk.
One passenger expressed gratitude to that the incident was resolved.
“We jumped and helped the pilot. Pals, every thing is OK now, as you’ll be able to see we’re touchdown in Saudi Arabia, you’ll be able to see I’m high-quality. That’s it. We’ll see in a couple of minutes what’s going to occur after we land,” Itzhak Liber, a passenger, mentioned in a video he posted on Fb.
Ambulances wait outdoors Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport close to Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026.
Abir Sultan/EPA/Shutterstock
An Israeli safety supply confirmed to ABC Information that the Israel Protection Forces beneficial {that a} navy plane be despatched to repatriate Israeli passengers from Saudi Arabia.
Nonetheless, the Saudi authorities refused to permit an IDF rescue flight to carry again the Israeli passengers, two Israeli sources conversant in the matter informed ABC Information.
ABC Information’ Victoria Beaule, David Brennan and Gaby Vinick contributed to this report.
