A FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai International to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning. The Boeing 737 Max 8, carrying between 150 and 180 passengers, transmitted multiple emergency signals shortly after takeoff, including one indicating possible unlawful interference. The situation briefly raised fears of a hijacking, prompting the Israeli Air Force to scramble warplanes.
Israeli officials and media reports indicate the incident was caused by a physical altercation in the cockpit between the plane's two pilots. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot stabbed the other and may have attempted to crash the flight. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in 30 seconds. Dramatic testimonies from those on board describe passengers storming the cockpit to subdue the attacker.
Both the pilot and co-pilot have been hospitalized following the fight, with one pilot reported to be seriously injured. While FlyDubai characterized the event as an incident while en route, an Israeli official described it as a possible terror attack. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances of the feud, though all passengers on board are safe.