Flydubai Flight to Israel Diverted After Cockpit Altercation, Distress Signal

A Flydubai flight en route to Israel was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Thursday after a distress signal was activated, initially raising fears of a hijacking. Passengers described hearing screams and seeing blood, with one Israeli passenger recounting that a pilot was stabbed with a knife in the cockpit. The incident occurred during the flight, and Israeli authorities are investigating the possibility that a dispute between the pilots led to the activation of the distress button.

Further details emerging suggest the event was not a hijacking. The current assessment is that an altercation between the captain and co-pilot resulted in the accidental triggering of the distress signal. The exact circumstances, including whether a stabbing occurred, are still under investigation. Passengers reported moments of intense fear, with one stating, "We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit, saw blood, and someone stabbed the pilot with a knife." Israeli passengers reportedly assisted the crew in subduing the individual involved.

Families of passengers experienced significant anxiety, especially given the current security situation. One woman shared her concern for her 75-year-old mother who was on the flight returning from Nepal via Dubai. "There were very big moments of anxiety. We couldn't contact her," she said, noting that SIM cards might not have had reception. The initial fear of a hijacking scenario was described as a "realistic nightmare scenario."

The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where the situation was clarified. The distress signal and loss of communication with Israel prompted an immediate and unusual security response until the situation became clearer after the plane's landing. Investigations are ongoing to determine the identities of those involved in the cockpit dispute and the precise sequence of events.