A bloodied passenger aboard a FlyDubai flight made a desperate plea for help after an alleged cockpit attack left both pilots injured and the aircraft diverting to Saudi Arabia.
The flight, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was reportedly thrown into chaos around 90 minutes after take-off when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain with a knife. The incident is being investigated by Israeli officials as a suspected terrorist attack, although the full circumstances have yet to be established.
Footage reportedly recorded inside the aircraft shows a man with blood running down his face addressing the camera as passengers prepare for an emergency landing.
“We’re here during the hijacking of the plane,” he says. “At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching the landing.”
He then makes an urgent appeal: “Whoever is heading me, we need help.”
Passengers reportedly rushed to restrain the co-pilot
Witnesses said a violent confrontation erupted near the cockpit, prompting several passengers to intervene and help restrain the suspected attacker.
One witness aboard the Boeing 737 MAX said passengers managed to reach the cockpit and bring the suspect to the ground.
Separate footage reportedly showed blood smeared across the aircraft’s walls, with both pilots lying on the floor wearing oxygen masks as injured passengers received emergency assistance.
The man seen pleading for help in the video also appeared in footage alongside two passengers receiving treatment.
The co-pilot, reported to be an Omani national, was arrested after the aircraft landed and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Aircraft reportedly plunged thousands of feet during the incident
Flight-tracking data appeared to show dramatic changes in altitude as the emergency unfolded.
According to the reported data, the aircraft descended approximately 17,400 feet in less than two minutes before climbing around 5,000 feet and subsequently dropping another 7,000 feet.
An emergency signal was transmitted while the aircraft was carrying 180 passengers.
The plane reportedly issued an international emergency alert before transmitting code 7500, which is used to indicate unlawful interference or a suspected hijacking.
Israeli officials were alerted to the situation, and fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft during its diversion.
The flight eventually landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia at 8:44 a.m. local time.
Netanyahu alleges an attempt to crash the aircraft
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed reports of the incident and alleged that the pilot had attempted to crash the aircraft with passengers still on board.
Other senior Israeli officials and a source familiar with the investigation told CNN that authorities were examining the incident as a suspected attempted terrorist attack.
An Israeli official speaking to N12 also described an alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft or deliberately crash it.
“The plane started to dive, and a team of pilots who were present took control of the stabber and the plane – a dramatic disaster was averted,” the official claimed.
These accounts remain allegations as investigators work to establish exactly what happened inside the cockpit.
Wounded passengers describe a scene covered in blood
Passengers described a frightening ordeal as emergency crews prepared to receive the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
One passenger said the captain had suffered serious injuries and was being taken to hospital.
“There’s a pilot that’s seriously injured. They’re taking him to a hospital,” the passenger said.
“It was rough. We’ll be home in a few hours. I need a change of clothes. Everything is drenched in blood.”
Reports also suggested that a British passenger with flying experience helped during the emergency after both pilots were injured. The precise circumstances of how control of the aircraft was maintained have not yet been fully established in the available accounts.
Images taken after the landing reportedly showed damage to the aircraft’s rudder, although the cause and extent of that damage were not independently established in the report.
Israeli security agencies launch urgent investigation
The incident has prompted an investigation involving several Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet, Mossad, the military and the country’s transportation ministry.
Authorities are examining the alleged cockpit assault, the aircraft’s sudden changes in altitude and the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing.
The investigation is also expected to establish how the confrontation began, what happened to the two pilots and whether the aircraft was deliberately placed in danger.
Although passengers reportedly managed to restrain the suspected attacker and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, many details remain unresolved.
For those on board, the flight became a terrifying emergency thousands of feet above the ground. Investigators must now determine what led to the alleged attack and whether the claims of an attempted hijacking or deliberate crash can be substantiated.