The flight, bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to descend from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in a matter of minutes after the Omani co‑pilot struck the Indian captain with a crash axe, a tool that is legally required in every commercial cockpit. Newpar. Passengers heard a frantic "mayday" call from the captain as the aircraft circled the Jordanian border before landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport early on the morning of 28 March 2024. Newpar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the swift action of the crew prevented a potential 9/11‑style disaster, and he confirmed the co‑pilot’s arrest the same day. Newpar. The crash axe, originally stored in the main cabin and moved to the cockpit after the 9/11 attacks, is a standard emergency tool designed to break windows and exit panels, not a weapon. Newpar. Saudi and UAE authorities have only confirmed that investigations are underway, while flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel pending the outcome of the probe. Newpar. The incident has reignited debate over cockpit security and the adequacy of current safety protocols on international flights.