Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has described a serious incident aboard a Flydubai passenger aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv as an attempted jihadist terrorist attack, following reports that a co-pilot attacked the captain during the flight.

The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026, forcing the aircraft to divert and make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to bring down the aircraft while it was approaching Israel. The plane reportedly experienced a sharp loss of altitude during the confrontation before passengers and members of the crew intervened.

In a statement, Katz credited several Israeli passengers with helping to stop the alleged attacker and restore control of the aircraft. He said their intervention, alongside the efforts of other crew members, prevented what could have been a major aviation disaster.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised those involved in containing the situation. In a video message, he said one of the pilots attacked the other as the aircraft approached Israel and appeared to be attempting to crash the plane with everyone on board.

Netanyahu disclosed that he had spoken with an Israeli passenger who helped enter the cockpit and confront the co-pilot as the aircraft began losing altitude.

He also acknowledged the role of another crew member who reportedly entered the cockpit and helped stabilise the aircraft after the confrontation.

However, the motive behind the alleged attack had not been independently established at the time of reporting. While Katz characterised the incident as a jihadist terrorist attempt, the UAE authorities ordered an investigation to establish what happened, the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and whether it had any connection to terrorist activity or prior planning.

Flydubai also said the underlying reasons and motives remained unknown and urged against premature conclusions while the investigation continued.

The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, where both pilots were taken to hospital for treatment. The passengers were subsequently accounted for, and those travelling to Israel were transported on another flight.

The incident has raised fresh questions about cockpit security and the screening of flight crew, with Israeli authorities indicating plans to strengthen checks on pilots operating flights into the country.

Investigations involving the relevant authorities are expected to establish the full sequence of events and determine the circumstances behind the alleged attack.