A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent struggle in the cockpit, with passengers and pilots travelling in plain clothes reportedly helping to overpower the attacker.

תיעוד מהמטוס שנחת בסעודיה: "השתלטנו על המחבלים. כל מי ששומע אותי – אנחנו צריכים עזרה"https://t.co/qp31UziuJB@NoganNir pic.twitter.com/Od4nR7c4Vq

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) September 30, 2026

Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, sent out an emergency signal that set off a security alert. Israeli authorities initially considered the possibility of a hijacking and scrambled fighter jets. The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk airport, and Flydubai said everyone on board was accounted for.

Video published by Israeli media appears to show the moment of touchdown, with passengers applauding and singing in evident relief.

WARNING|: Graphic Video Content

#BREAKING

🚨 Cockpit video is now out

Shows a bloody altercation, with one of the pilots seen soaked in blood

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia after what authorities described as a “violent incident” between two pilots

The aircraft… pic.twitter.com/p3eIQ58Ndw

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) September 30, 2026

One passenger, identified only as Meital, told Israel’s Channel 12 that a member of the crew in the cockpit had tried to bring the plane down and was restrained by passengers. She said her husband was among those who took part.

“Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband understood immediately what was happening,” she said. “He ran to the front of the plane and, together with other Israelis, they neutralised the terrorist.”

She added: “There were stab wounds and a lot of blood.” Passengers were still in shock, she said. “We are very emotional and under enormous pressure. It is very difficult for me to talk.”

Another passenger, in a video sent to his family, also spoke of a “terrorist” who had tried to take control of the aircraft. He said he helped to restrain the man, who was then tied up. Other accounts from passengers said a doctor and a nurse on board gave first aid to the injured pilot.

Channel 12 reported that a second group of pilots was on the flight as passengers, dressed in civilian clothes, and helped to prevent one of the pilots from seizing control of the aircraft. The mother of a passenger, speaking at Ben Gurion airport, gave the same account.

An Israeli official told the channel that, had those pilots not been on board, the incident could have developed into an attack comparable to 11 September 2001 or the 1976 Entebbe hostage crisis in Uganda. None of these claims has been officially confirmed.

The Israeli outlet Walla reported that the pilot under investigation is an Omani national.

Photographs circulating since the landing show damage to the tail section of the aircraft, caused by its sudden descent during the flight. Analysis of flight data indicates that the plane dropped by around 4,360 metres in 37 seconds.

🇮🇱✈️🇸🇦 Cockpit fight on flydubai flight to Tel Aviv triggers hijack code, steep dive and emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, squawked 7700 (general emergency) and then 7500 (unlawful interference) about 90 minutes… pic.twitter.com/aSkHDc8Rop

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) September 30, 2026

Attention has now turned to getting the passengers home. Flydubai has said it will send a replacement aircraft to Tabuk to collect them and complete the journey to Tel Aviv. Israeli media reports, however, say Jerusalem is considering sending its own civilian or military plane to bring back Israeli passengers.

Investigations into what happened in the cockpit are continuing, and the authorities have yet to give a final account of the cause.