The ministry stated that the investigation was conducted by Saudi authorities in coordination with a security team from the United Arab Emirates. Following the incident, the aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, at 9:45 a.m. local time. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members. By 5:40 p.m. that day, all passengers had continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft, while the remaining crew, excluding the two pilots, returned to Dubai. The two pilots were repatriated to the UAE with an Emirati security team.
Flydubai described the event as an “altercation in the flight deck,” noting that crew members secured the plane and diverted it safely. Flight data indicates that at approximately 8:21 a.m. Israel time, the aircraft experienced significant altitude fluctuations, dropping more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Aviation experts noted that at the speeds involved, the aircraft was traveling faster than its design limits, which can cause structural components to detach. Images of the aircraft post-landing showed damage to the rudder, consistent with the extreme forces exerted during the recovery from the deep dive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot stabbed or struck the captain with an axe as the plane approached Israel. Netanyahu said the injured captain was bleeding profusely but managed to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers then entered the cockpit to subdue the suspect. One passenger, identified as Miriam, described hearing screams and observing blood from an individual who had attempted to murder the pilot with a pocketknife. Another passenger, a plumber, stated he had no flight experience but used information from a television show to pull back on the yoke, helping to level the aircraft and prevent further catastrophic damage.
Netanyahu indicated that the motive for the attack has not yet been identified. He stated that authorities are determining whether the co-pilot is connected to Iran and mentioned reports that the individual underwent a process of indoctrination with extremist ideas. The United Arab Emirates announced it is leading the investigation to determine if the incident was related to terrorist activity, prior planning, or instructions from third parties. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that the injured pilot was in stable condition as of Wednesday night.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the serious incident while noting relief that a catastrophe was avoided. The legal jurisdiction for the case is expected to rest with the UAE, as the aircraft is registered there and the incident occurred during a commercial flight originating from the country. The case remains at the investigative stage, with no formal charges publicly announced or convictions recorded. The presumption of innocence applies to the co-pilot, who is currently being held for questioning by UAE authorities.
The immediate legal consequence of the assault is the repatriation of both pilots for further examination and potential criminal proceedings. The UAE security team’s involvement in the repatriation highlights the jurisdictional priority of the home state. No further hearings or sentencing dates have been scheduled, as the investigative phase is ongoing.
