The assault began when the co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain as the aircraft began to nosedive, sending passengers into a panic.
Manes, his wife, and daughter were in the front lavatory when they heard screams; he immediately alerted the flight attendant and rushed toward the cockpit.
Yaniv, another Israeli passenger, seized the controls and pulled the plane up, halting the steep descent while the struggle continued for 20‑25 minutes.
The aircraft transmitted emergency signals, lost altitude, and the crew secured the cockpit before diverting to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where both pilots were hospitalized.
Flydubai confirmed an "altercation occurred in the flight deck" and that emergency landing procedures were followed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew, saying their actions "saved many lives and prevented a major disaster," and the flight returned to Israel with about 180 passengers.