Israeli Officials Say Pilot Stabbed Co-Pilot, Tried to Crash Dubai Flight

General60 sourcesSep 30, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 53/100

The Story

Israeli ministers called for increased military action on all regional fronts following what officials described as an attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight carrying over 100 Israeli passengers on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed one pilot stabbed his counterpart and attempted to crash the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Israel to address the intent and not the results, calling for action against whoever tried to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a report claiming the hijacker planned a 9/11-like attack.

There is no evidence suggesting foreign backing for the suspected hijacker. The flight, FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers and off-duty flydubai crew members intervened to subdue the attacking pilot and stabilize the plane after it plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Passenger Ron Levi described the plane turning all sideways and going up and down. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called it an attempted jihadist terror attack. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was arrested by Saudi authorities. The plane's captain and first officer sustained injuries and were hospitalized. A rescue flight carrying the passengers landed at Ben-Gurion Airport, where Prime Minister Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Miri Regev welcomed them.

Some Israeli passengers initially refused to board the flydubai rescue flight, demanding an Israeli aircraft. Saudi Arabia denied Israel's request to send its own planes to retrieve the passengers. Of the 174 passengers on flight FZ1073, 166 were Israelis. Netanyahu ordered tighter security on flights to Israel and instructed the security establishment to prepare for potential additional threats. The incident occurred a week before the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.

What they agree on

A flydubai flight (FZ1073) from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday due to an incident in the cockpit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that one pilot stabbed another and attempted to crash the plane.
Passengers and off-duty crew members intervened to subdue the attacking pilot and stabilize the aircraft.
The plane experienced a rapid descent of nearly 14,000 feet before an emergency signal was sent.
The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national by an Israeli official, was arrested by Saudi authorities after the plane landed.

Where they split

The Jerusalem Post and CBS News provide direct quotes from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, describing the incident as an "attempted jihadist terror attack" and praising passenger heroism.
The Jerusalem Post also details the initial refusal of some Israeli passengers to board the flydubai rescue flight and Saudi Arabia's denial of an Israeli Air Force request to retrieve citizens, which is less prominent in US outlets.
Gulf media, as analyzed by The Jerusalem Post, generally took a more cautious approach, with some outlets delaying or omitting reporting on the incident, and flydubai's official statement emphasizing that the reasons for the incident were unknown.
USA Today and The Boston Globe focus on the dramatic in-flight events, such as the plane plummeting thousands of feet and the struggle in the cockpit, while The Hill and Time emphasize the political reactions and security implications from Israeli officials.