FlyDubai flight to Israel diverted after pilot allegedly attacked fellow pilot

A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on 30 September 2026 after an altercation between its pilots, according to live coverage by The Guardian. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and appeared to try to crash the plane, and the suspect has reportedly been arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities. These accounts are preliminary and the situation is still developing.

What's happening

According to The Guardian, the FlyDubai Boeing 737 was over Jordan when it diverted to Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 is reported to have shown the aircraft transmitting emergency codes, including a 7700 squawk (a general emergency) and a 7500 squawk (which can indicate a hijacking). The Guardian, citing Flightradar24 data, reports that the plane descended about 16,000 ft in roughly two minutes, dropping from nearly 34,000 ft to under 17,000 ft.

Netanyahu said a passenger and a crew member managed to break into the cockpit and together "neutralised" the attacking pilot, describing it as "an extremely severe security incident". Defence minister Israel Katz has called it an attempted terrorist attack. Those characterisations come from Israeli officials and have not been independently confirmed. Reuters, citing an Israeli official, reports that the attacker was identified as an Omani national and that the co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain. Tabuk airport said the plane landed at 9.45am local time and that both pilots were taken to hospital. A second FlyDubai flight later landed safely in Tel Aviv.

Who's affected

The direct impact was on the aircraft's occupants: Israeli officials said the flight carried between 160 and 180 passengers, most of whom were reportedly Israeli. Officials said those on board were safe after the incident, apart from the injured pilot or pilots. People booked on flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel may see schedule changes or additional security measures; Netanyahu has ordered security to be "ramped up" on Israeli and non-Israeli carriers.

The incident also had diplomatic and airspace effects. Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled over fears of a hijacking, and Reuters, citing two security sources, said Saudi Arabia turned down an Israeli request to allow Israeli planes to pick up the passengers. Saudi Arabia and Israel have no diplomatic relations. Most travellers not on these routes are not directly affected.

What to do

If you have a booking on Israel or UAE routes, check your airline's and the airport's official channels for the latest flight status rather than relying on social media.
Expect heightened security screening on carriers operating to and from Israel while the review is under way.
Contact the airline directly about rerouting, refunds, or rebooking if your flight is affected.
Treat early reports cautiously: the sequence of events and the alleged motive are still being established, and accounts may change as authorities release more information.

Sources

The Guardian — live coverage of the diversion, the emergency signals, the altitude drop, and officials' statements.
The Washington Post — reported on the Tel Aviv-bound flight's diversion to Saudi Arabia after the onboard altercation.
Financial Times — reported on the incident involving the Israel-bound FlyDubai flight.