Knife Fight Between Pilots on Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight

A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a sudden drop in altitude due to a knife fight between two pilots. After passengers and crew subdued the attacker, the aircraft managed to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Severe Midair Brawl and Descent

During a flight operated by FlyDubai, a knife attack between two pilots in the air caused widespread panic. During the attack, the aircraft suddenly lost thousands of feet in altitude, narrowly avoiding a rapid plunge downward.

According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft transmitted emergency signals and lost more than 17,000 feet of elevation in less than two minutes.

Brave Intervention by Passengers

Following screams from the cockpit, passengers and cabin crew immediately took action and intervened in the fight. Through the joint efforts of the passengers, the attacking pilot was subdued and control was reestablished.

Dentist Shota Musayev, who was on the plane, along with other passengers Peleg Itali, Asaf Rajuan, and Tzvika Manes, recounted the moments of terror and provided first aid to the injured pilot in the cockpit.

Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia

The aircraft changed course in an area near the border between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, executing a forced landing at Tabuk Airport at approximately 09:45 local time.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that nearly all of the passengers on the plane were Israeli and that Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in the incident, acted heroically.

Safe Travel for Passengers

Following the incident, an evacuation plane sent by FlyDubai picked up between 160 and 180 passengers and safely transported them to Israel on Wednesday night.

Three Israeli security sources stated that the pilot believed to have carried out the attack is an Omani citizen, while the Omani Foreign Ministry did not immediately issue a statement regarding the incident.