Israeli Passenger Recounts Terror on Dubai Flight After Pilot Stabbing

An Israeli passenger described harrowing moments on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, initially fearing a hijacking or crash after hearing screams and seeing blood in the cockpit. Miriam, an Israeli passenger, recounted, "Someone stabbed the pilot with a penknife, I screamed 'Shema Yisrael'" (a Jewish prayer). She added, "We felt we were about to crash... There were a doctor and nurse who gave first aid to the pilot. Israelis neutralized the attacker along with the crew, and we made an emergency landing."

The flight, carrying over 150 Israelis, transmitted a distress signal that indicated a possible hijacking, prompting the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets. The plane circled over Jordan before heading towards Saudi Arabia, where it eventually landed. The incident led to an urgent security consultation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Following the initial alarm, it was revealed that the incident stemmed from a violent altercation between the pilots themselves. Reports suggest one pilot allegedly stabbed the other, leading to the distress signal. The Prime Minister's office stated, "The situation is under control, and all means are being deployed to safely return the Israeli passengers to Israel."

Flydubai announced it would send another aircraft to Saudi Arabia to transport the passengers to Israel. The Israel Airports Authority clarified that Israeli airspace remains open and air traffic is operating normally.