Co-pilot attacks captain on flight to Israel, plane diverted safely

On September 30, 2026, a co-pilot attacked the captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot stabbed the captain while the plane was in the air. The aircraft dropped 16,000 feet in about 60 seconds. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and crew. After the injured captain opened the cockpit door, passengers and crew stopped the co-pilot. The plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where the rudder was found to be damaged. Investigators later discovered that Oman had already banned the co-pilot from flying because of concerns about his radical views. He had worked as a pilot for 15 years. UAE prosecutors are now investigating whether the attack was an act of terrorism.