Jaw-Dropping Details Emerge From Hijacking Attempt On Israel-Bound Flight

Harrowing new details are emerging from the midair chaos aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, where officials say one pilot stabbed the other and apparently attempted to bring down the passenger jet before travelers rushed the cockpit and helped stop him.

Flydubai Flight 1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when a violent struggle erupted inside the cockpit, sending the aircraft plunging thousands of feet and triggering emergency alerts before the crew diverted to Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and “apparently attempted to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” nearly all of whom were Israelis.

The aircraft abruptly reversed course near the Saudi-Jordanian border before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time.

Israeli officials said roughly 160 to 180 passengers were aboard.

But as the crisis unfolded behind the cockpit door, passengers reportedly realized something was seriously wrong—and some took action.

NEW: The pilot who was stabbed on the FlyDubai flight by his terrorist co-pilot was able to open the release on the cockpit door as he lay covered in blood on the floor.

The quick thinking allowed the Israeli passengers to storm the cockpit and subdue the terrorist, according… pic.twitter.com/DVhQg9xmWa

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 30, 2026

NEW: Man tells Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu how he put the terrorist pilot of the Flydubai flight in a chokehold before leveling out the plane.

Yaniv Hayun, whose shirt was stained with blood, recalled the moment he helped subdue the attacker.

"I grabbed the attacker, put him… pic.twitter.com/A0el1MVTc6

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 30, 2026

Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger later described forcing his way into the cockpit with a crew member and helping overpower “the attacking pilot while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems.”

“I salute these heroes, who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said. “They saved many lives and prevented a disaster.”

Passengers described a terrifying scene as people scrambled toward the front of the cabin while the aircraft remained in flight.

One passenger later said travelers had subdued the alleged attacker and were guarding the wounded captain as the jet approached Saudi Arabia.

Videos apparently recorded aboard the aircraft showed bloodied passengers and an injured man as travelers attempted to process the violent confrontation that had just unfolded.

The attacking pilot was taken into custody and was being questioned by Saudi authorities, according to Netanyahu.

Both pilots were hospitalized with injuries following the incident, according to officials at the Tabuk airport.

Despite the violence inside the cockpit and the aircraft’s dramatic descent, the jet landed safely.

A replacement aircraft later transported the stranded passengers from Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said none of the passengers required immediate medical treatment after arriving in Israel.

What prompted the terrifying episode remains under investigation.

Israeli authorities are reportedly examining several possibilities, including whether the incident was an attempted attack targeting Israelis or a suicide attempt.

Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred but has released few details about what sparked the confrontation.

A company spokesperson said crew members on duty were able to secure the aircraft.

The incident initially raised fears of a possible hijacking.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft transmitting emergency code 7700, the general aviation emergency signal, before switching to 7500—the transponder code associated with hijacking or unlawful interference. The aircraft later returned to the general emergency code.

Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as security officials monitored the unfolding crisis.

Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials also held emergency consultations as authorities raced to determine what was happening aboard the aircraft.

What began as a routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had suddenly become a fight for control of a passenger jet thousands of feet above the ground.

And according to Israeli officials, the actions of passengers and crew members inside that cockpit may have prevented the flight from ending in catastrophe.