Flydubai pilot attacks colleague mid-flight leading to emergency landing

On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a violent altercation in the cockpit. According to Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot stabbed his colleague and attempted to crash the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The situation was neutralized after an Israeli passenger and cabin crew members entered the cockpit, successfully subduing the attacker and stabilizing the plane, which had briefly experienced a sharp loss of altitude.

While Israeli authorities initially investigated the incident as a potential terrorist attack, others noted the event was a severe security breach involving a conflict between pilots. The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing interrogation by Saudi Arabian authorities. Flydubai confirmed the safe landing and the safety of all 180 passengers and crew, subsequently deploying replacement aircraft to retrieve them. While some early reports suggested a second flight was diverted, these were later dismissed as technical glitches in tracking software. The Israeli Ministry of Transport is now reviewing safety protocols and the airline's compliance with aviation agreements.