A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a severe security incident on October 1, 2026, when the co-pilot attempted to crash the plane after stabbing the pilot. The incident occurred on flight FZ1073, which had over 170 Israelis on board. Israeli officials reported that passengers subdued the co-pilot while other pilots landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was arrested after the plane landed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the event as a "highly severe security incident" and stated that Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot. Netanyahu also confirmed that all passengers were out of harm's way and ordered tighter security on both Israeli and non-Israeli carriers flying into Israel.
According to Netanyahu, a passenger reported that passengers and a crew member broke into the cockpit after the aircraft "entered a tailspin and began to dive" and found the co-pilot "trying to sabotage the plane's systems." The passenger credited with helping to prevent a "heavy disaster." A spokesman for Netanyahu stated that the wounded pilot had clicked open the release on the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.
Flight data showed that the aircraft suddenly and rapidly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before sending a first emergency signal. A second set of pilots on board, who were due to replace the first pair, successfully landed the plane. The incident heightened security fears in Israel weeks before the country's election.
Passengers reported hearing screaming and seeing a man holding a knife forcing one of the pilots onto the floor, with blood everywhere. Israeli media published a photo purportedly taken from inside the plane, showing a passenger's blood-soaked shirt, although Reuters could not verify the image.
Flydubai operates daily return flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, a route popular among Israeli nationals. The flight path normally uses airspace over Saudi Arabia and Jordan. This incident was not the first time a flight between Israel and the UAE had landed in Saudi Arabia, with a similar incident occurring in September 2025 due to a medical emergency.
The incident prompted reactions from Israeli officials, including far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wrote that "terrorism is a devil with whom no agreement must be reached." The Israeli Transport Ministry announced a joint investigation with the defence establishment, and the airline warned against "premature speculation" about the incident.
Key points
- Passengers subdued a pilot who tried to crash a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- The incident occurred on October 1, 2026, on flight FZ1073, which had over 170 Israelis on board.
- The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and the co-pilot was arrested.
