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Passengers aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel were thrown into panic on Wednesday after one of the pilots allegedly stabbed his co-pilot and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, carrying about 150 Israeli passengers, as the Boeing 737 was travelling from Dubai to Israel.

According to flight-tracking data cited in reports, the aircraft dramatically lost approximately 13,000 feet in about 30 seconds and veered off its course, triggering fears that the plane could crash.

The situation reportedly escalated when passengers heard screams coming from the cockpit. Some passengers subsequently rushed toward the cockpit after it was opened and found one of the pilots bleeding.

A passenger who spoke to Israel’s Channel 12 described the terrifying moments aboard the aircraft.

“We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit and we saw blood, and someone had stabbed the pilot with a pocketknife.”

The passenger added: “We prayed. There were also moments when we thought we weren’t going to make it out alive.”

According to the reports, two other pilots who were aboard the flight intervened and took control of the aircraft, preventing a potentially catastrophic outcome.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where security personnel took charge of the situation.

The passengers were later safely evacuated from the aircraft.

Israeli officials described the incident as one in which a “major disaster was narrowly avoided.”

Israeli security agencies, including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad and Shin Bet, are reportedly examining the incident as a possible act of terrorism.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing, including the identity and motive of the attacker and how the cockpit was accessed, remain subject to investigation.

NewsMediaNG will continue to monitor developments as authorities provide further details.

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Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Israel’s enemies, declaring that the country’s military will continue to operate on all fronts and will reach any threat anywhere, at any time.

The Prime Minister spoke during a visit to the IDF Air Force Tel Nof base, where he met with pilots and ground crews. Flanked by members of the Israeli Air Force, Netanyahu said Israel’s operations have achieved significant results in recent weeks, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.

“I am here at the Air Force base with our heroic pilots and our outstanding ground crews. We are operating constantly on all fronts,” Netanyahu said.

He disclosed that Israeli forces have eliminated key terrorist figures in Gaza in recent days. According to the Prime Minister, two days ago, forces killed the terrorist responsible for kidnapping Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or.

Argamani, who became one of the most recognized faces of the October 7th hostage crisis after video of her abduction went viral, was rescued in a special operation in June 2024 alongside three other hostages. Or was also rescued.

“We brought them home, and we eliminated him. Last night, we eliminated the commander of Hamas’s Northern Gaza Brigade. He joined his predecessors, whom we also eliminated,” Netanyahu stated.

He said the latest operations are part of a broader offensive that has seen more than 100 terrorists eliminated in Gaza in recent weeks alone.

“All told, in recent weeks we have eliminated more than 100 terrorists — and that is just in Gaza. Of course, we are also operating in Lebanon. You remember what we did to the Ali Taher Ridge,” he asked, referring to recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that despite military achievements, Israel is facing mounting international and domestic pressure to scale back operations and agree to withdrawals.

“There have been tremendous achievements, but there are also tremendous pressures — pressure to withdraw, to give up the great achievements secured through the heroism of our fighters. I am not allowing that to happen, and I will not allow it to happen,” he vowed.

Netanyahu also issued a direct warning to hostile actors he said may attempt to attack Israel ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. He said intelligence indicates that Israel’s enemies may seek to exploit the election period.

“We have indications that, ahead of the elections, our enemies will try to attack us. So from here, from this Air Force base, from the long arm of the State of Israel, I have a message for them: Don’t mess with us — not now, and not ever. Our long arm will reach you anywhere, at any time,” the Prime Minister boastfully declared.

The visit to Tel Nof, one of the Israel Defense Forces’ principal air bases and home to several fighter squadrons and transport units, comes as the IDF continues to maintain high alert across multiple fronts, including Gaza, the northern border with Lebanon and Syria, and the West Bank.

Tel Nof has played a central role in Israel’s recent long-range operations, which Netanyahu described as proof of Israel’s ability to project power far beyond its borders.

The Prime Minister also praised the airmen and ground crews, calling them “heroic” and “outstanding” and credited them with securing the achievements on the battlefield.

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Iran has ruled out fresh negotiations with the United States at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, despite US President Donald Trump saying he expects talks between the two countries to resume this week.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported Monday that the Iranian delegation in New York had no plans to hold negotiations with Washington, citing an unnamed source close to the delegation.

The development came a day after Trump told Axios that he expected US and Iranian representatives to engage in further discussions following Washington’s rejection of Tehran’s latest proposal concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran’s delegation in New York has no plans for negotiations with the United States,” IRNA quoted the source as saying.

However, indirect diplomatic contacts appear to be continuing through regional mediators, particularly Qatar. Axios reported that Qatari officials have been shuttling between Iranian and US negotiators in an effort to narrow differences between the two sides.

Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days as part of a broader arrangement to halt hostilities. Tehran has linked the proposal to demands including the lifting of the US naval blockade, removal of sanctions affecting its oil exports and a regional ceasefire.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil trade passes, making the dispute over access to the waterway a major concern for international energy markets.

The latest diplomatic standoff follows months of conflict between Washington and Tehran. Iran has sought to use negotiations over the strait as a pathway toward a broader settlement, while the Trump administration has also pressed Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal on Saturday but said the door to further discussions remained open. According to Axios, he said he expected more talks during the week and that Qatar and other regional mediators were continuing efforts to revive negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated Sunday that Tehran remained open to diplomacy, saying Iran was waiting for an official response through mediators despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal.

The conflicting statements highlight the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of US-Iran diplomacy, with Washington signalling interest in further talks while Tehran says its delegation currently in New York has no plans for direct negotiations.