Flydubai Plane Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Pilot Stabbed Mid-Flight

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a mid-air incident involving the cockpit crew. According to passenger testimonies, one of the pilots was stabbed with a knife during a struggle in the cockpit. Israeli passengers and crew members then subdued the assailant. One passenger described the terrifying moments, recounting screams, seeing large amounts of blood, and fearing the plane would crash. She added that a doctor and nurse on board provided initial treatment to the injured pilot, and that the plane lost control for several minutes, experiencing a sharp descent of approximately 15,000 feet in one minute, according to flight tracking data. The incident is being investigated, with one possibility being that a pilot attempted suicide and to crash the plane. The flight crew reportedly consisted of a Russian pilot and a Ukrainian co-pilot, with the co-pilot and Israeli passengers credited with helping to regain control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed on the situation and stated that all measures were being taken to ensure the safe return of the Israeli passengers. A replacement aircraft is being sent from Dubai to Saudi Arabia to transport the passengers to Israel. The flight, carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, initially transmitted emergency code 7700 and then code 7500, indicating a hijacking, before diverting to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled during the incident, and urgent consultations were held by Israeli leadership.