Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Knife Fight Between Pilots

A Flydubai flight carrying 150 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia following a violent altercation between the pilot and co-pilot. According to Israeli media, defence sources, and passenger accounts, a fight broke out in the cockpit approximately two hours into the flight, during which one pilot was stabbed with a knife. The incident caused the aircraft to temporarily lose control and dive sharply, creating extreme panic and noise among the passengers, most of whom were Israeli citizens. Passengers managed to intervene and remove the attacker from the cockpit, while a dentist on board administered first aid to the injured pilot. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement confirming that the situation was brought under control and that efforts are underway to safely return the stranded citizens home. Both pilots sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital upon landing in Saudi Arabia, while the underlying cause of the dispute remains unclear.