A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Israel was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an apparent altercation involving its pilots triggered a distress alert and raised fears of a hijacking attempt.
Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, described the incident as a “terrorist” attack, alleging that the attacker intended to crash the Boeing 737 carrying up to 180 passengers.
Israeli media reported that passengers intervened after a confrontation in the cockpit, with one pilot reportedly stabbed and seriously injured.
Videos said to have been recorded inside the aircraft showed people with blood on their clothes, although the footage and accounts could not be independently verified.
Ben-Gvir said the incident demonstrated the need for Israel to strengthen its security measures and continue its military campaigns across the region.
“Thank God and the heroic passengers, but Israel’s security doctrine must be taken to the next level,” he wrote on X, adding that the country “must continue until achieving total victory” in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
“The naive notion that our enemies value life and deserve our pity was given yet another stark reminder this morning in the form of a terrorist who planned to blow up a plane and murder the 180 Israelis on board.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also said anyone involved in an attempt to bring down the aircraft should face severe consequences.
“Anyone who tried to bring down a plane and murder 180 Israelis should pay as though they had murdered them – as should any country or terrorist organisation that sent them”.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, authorities were treating the incident as a possible “terror” attack and were investigating whether one of the pilots had deliberately attempted to crash the plane.
Other possible explanations were also being considered.
The flight, FZ 1073, was travelling to Ben Gurion Airport when it descended about 16,000 feet in two minutes while flying over Jordan, according to the report.
Israeli officials said the pilot and co-pilot appeared to have become involved in a fight, with one of them sending a distress signal before the aircraft eventually landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
A passenger told the Jerusalem Post that one pilot stabbed another before passengers near the front of the plane intervened and forced the attacker away from the cockpit.
The passenger said an injured pilot received emergency treatment from a dentist travelling on the flight.
Saudi aviation officials said both the captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital for treatment, while all passengers were safe.
FlyDubai confirmed that flight FZ 1073 had experienced an incident and landed safely in Tabuk.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said. “Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially said the diversion was not linked to a hijacking attempt, but authorities later confirmed that the incident was being investigated.
Israeli media subsequently reported that investigators were examining whether one of the pilots had attempted suicide by deliberately trying to crash the aircraft, while also considering the possibility of an attack targeting Israeli passengers.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force was awaiting Saudi permission to transport the stranded passengers back to Israel.
The incident occurred days after Netanyahu warned of indications that an attack could take place during Israel’s October elections.
The Israeli military, however, said it had no intelligence indicating that an attack was being planned.
FlyDubai later confirmed that another flight bound for Tel Aviv turned around and returned to Dubai following the incident.
