Flydubai Pilot Attacked Co-Pilot, Forcing Flight to Land in Saudi Arabia

Summary

Updated Oct 2, 2026

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia after an apparent cockpit attack, and passengers and crew subdued the alleged attacker.Jamaica Observer +3
The aircraft landed safely and no passengers were reported injured.Jamaica Observer +2
Reports conflict over whether the pilot attacked the co-pilot or the co-pilot attacked the pilot.Jamaica Observer +1
The UAE is investigating possible terrorist activity linked to the incident.Jamaica Observer

Automatically summarised from the coverage below.

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Coverage

Oct 1, 2026

WEIRD STUFF

A FlyDubai pilot stabbed his fellow pilot and apparently tried to crash a flight carrying dozens of Israelis, but passengers and crew subdued him and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Israel said the quick intervention prevented a major disaster and scrambled warplanes amid fears of a hijacking.

Oct 1, 2026

Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot indoctrinated as UAE probes ‘terror’ link

Israeli officials say a flydubai co-pilot stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight to Israel, but passengers and crew overpowered him and forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The UAE has opened a probe into possible terrorist activity, and the incident has raised security concerns for UAE-Israel travel under the Abraham Accords.

Sep 30, 2026

Pilot stabs co-pilot, attempts to crash flight carrying 170 people of mostly Israelis

A FlyDubai pilot stabbed another pilot and appeared to try to crash a Dubai-to-Israel flight carrying about 170 people, but passengers and crew subdued him and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Israel scrambled warplanes amid fears of a hijacking, and the incident raised fresh security concerns on a route heavily used by Israelis traveling to the UAE.

Sep 30, 2026

Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot in ‘suicide attack’, passenger says

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a passenger said one pilot attacked the co-pilot and tried to crash the plane over Jordan. No passengers were injured, and other crew and travelers helped subdue the pilot, according to accounts from onboard. The flight carried Israelis, including a woman heading to a memorial service for her brother killed in the Oct. 7 attack.