Israel-Bound Flight Drops 17,000 Feet After Pilot Allegedly Stabbed — Netanyahu Minister Slams Suspected ‘Terrorist’ Attack

An Israel-bound Flydubai flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a reported cockpit altercation in which the pilot was allegedly stabbed on Wednesday. Both the pilot and co-pilot were injured.

An Israeli official alleged that the co-pilot, an Omani national, was responsible for the attack, CNN reported.

The flight, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, reportedly descended 17,400 feet in less than two minutes, according to flight-tracking data, alarming passengers on board.

In a statement, Flydubai said that flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced an incident while en route on Sept. 30. The aircraft landed “safely” at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers were reported “safe and accounted for.”

Ben-Gvir Calls for Tougher Security

The incident prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to hold a security consultation. The circumstances surrounding the cockpit altercation and the reported stabbing remain under investigation.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir thanked the passengers who helped during the incident and called for Israel to strengthen its security doctrine. He characterized the alleged cockpit attacker as a terrorist who intended to crash the plane and kill the 180 Israelis aboard.

“Terrorism is a devil with which no agreement should ever be reached except for its defeat and erasure from the face of the earth,” he wrote.

תודה לבורא עולם ולנוסעים הגיבורים, אבל תפיסת הביטחון של ישראל חייבת לעלות קומה!

ישראל עשתה עבודה נפלאה בשנתיים וחצי האחרונות אבל אסור לעצור וחייבים להמשיך עד להכרעה המוחלטת באיראן, לבנון, עזה ויהודה ושומרון.

התפיסה הנאיבית שהאויבים שלנו חפצי חיים וצריך לרחם עליהם, קיבלה הבוקר…

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) September 30, 2026