Co-pilot attacks pilot on flight to Israel, passengers regain control

A co-pilot attacked the pilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. The co-pilot, an Omani national, stabbed the pilot about two hours after take-off and tried to crash the plane. The aircraft dropped more than 17,000 feet in under two minutes. Passengers and crew broke into the cockpit and stopped the attacker. They then took back control of the plane. The flight sent a hijacking alert, and Israeli warplanes were sent up in response. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Both pilots were injured. Israeli officials called it an attempted terror attack. Passengers later continued to Tel Aviv on a different plane. Around 170 people were on board.