Flydubai pilot arrested after mid-air struggle and forced landing in Saudi Arabia

On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv performed an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia following a violent altercation in the cockpit. Reports indicate that one pilot stabbed his colleague and attempted to crash the aircraft, causing the plane to descend rapidly from 34,000 to 18,000 feet within minutes. Passengers, including several civilians and off-duty pilots on board, managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the attacker while the aircraft systems were being damaged.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the incident, describing it as a severe security threat, with some Israeli officials characterizing it as a potential act of terrorism. The attacker is currently being held and interrogated by Saudi authorities. While Flydubai stated that the motives remain under investigation and urged against speculation, the 174 passengers and crew were eventually flown back to Israel on a different Flydubai aircraft after Saudi Arabia reportedly declined a request for Israeli military planes to retrieve the travelers. The incident remains under formal investigation by the relevant authorities.