What We Know About the Alleged Stabbing of a Pilot's Co-Pilot on a Flight to Israel

A commercial flight travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after what Israeli officials describe as an attempted attack by one of the plane's pilots against the other.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the Flydubai flight's pilots stabbed his co-pilot and appeared to be attempting to crash the aircraft. Officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, have described the episode as an attempted terrorist attack, and Israeli authorities say they are investigating that possibility.

How the incident unfolded

According to officials, the flight was over Jordan when it diverted toward Saudi Arabia, transmitting three emergency signals during the diversion, one of which indicated possible unlawful interference. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 carrying between 160 and 180 passengers according to Israeli officials, reportedly dropped roughly 16,000 feet in altitude within about two minutes during the reported struggle in the cockpit.

Netanyahu said a passenger managed to enter the cockpit along with a crew member, and together they "neutralised" the pilot accused of carrying out the attack. He described the episode as "an extremely severe security incident" and praised the passengers and crew involved, saying they "showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage."

An Israeli official identified the alleged attacker as an Omani national, according to Reuters. The plane ultimately landed at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it had diverted after the emergency signals were transmitted.

Fears of a hijacking

The emergency signals briefly raised fears among Israeli officials of a possible hijacking attempt targeting a flight believed to be carrying dozens of Israeli passengers, prompting the scrambling of fighter jets as the situation developed. Those fears eased once the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia and the situation in the cockpit was brought under control.

Investigators are continuing to examine the exact sequence of events, the motive behind the alleged attack, and the full circumstances surrounding how the confrontation began between the two pilots. Full details, including the extent of the co-pilot's injuries, have not yet been confirmed.