Dubai-Tel Aviv flight diverts to Saudi Arabia after suspected hijacking attempt

A commercial flight carrying around 180 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following a suspected hijacking attempt by one of the pilots.

The aircraft, operated by Emirati airline Flydubai, transmitted an emergency alert two hours into the flight when it plummeted 14,000 feet in less than a minute.

The incident occurred over the Jordan-Saudi border after the copilot, an Omani national, stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane, according to Hebrew media reports.

Several Israeli passengers helped the Emirati captain subdue the attacker and prevent the aircraft from crashing.

Israeli fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft, which safely landed in Tabuk.

Israeli officials are reportedly investigating the incident as a potential terror attack, though the motive remains unclear.

"This morning there was an extremely serious security incident," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement from his office.

"The pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities," he said.

'Stabbings, blood'

Videos of the injured pilot were circulated on social media while passengers described scenes of chaos and panic as the aircraft descended.

"There were screams. Stabbings, stabbings, blood, blood,"  a passenger named Adam told Israel's Channel 13 News.

"Several Israeli guys took control of the situation, they managed to stabilise the aircraft," he said.

Tabuk Airport said the Emirati captain and the co-pilot were injured and were receiving treatment in hospital.

Another passenger, Miryam Shira Ohayon, said the co-pilot tried to crash the plane and kill everyone on board.

"The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane," AFP quoted her as telling reporters by speakerphone.

Flydubai flights suspended

Passengers arrived in Tel Aviv at 1835 local time (1535 GMT) on a Flydubai flight from Tabuk. Israeli media reported that some initially refused to board the aircraft and demanded rescue by an Israeli airline.

Flydubai said the aircraft “experienced an incident while en route”, adding that it landed safely at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport and that all passengers were safe and accounted for.

"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority," the statement read. "Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available."

Netanyahu said later on Wednesday that all Flydubai flights would be suspended until further notice while the investigation takes place.

Transport Minister Miri Regev had earlier demanded the move and asked the Civil Aviation Authority to investigate whether the UAE violated its agreement with Israel. The bilateral aviation agreement forbids pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel - such as Oman - from landing in the country.