aviationflight safetyIsraelSaudi Arabiasecurity incident
Flydubai Flight 737 Max Stabbed Pilot, Near-Crash, Lands in Tabuk
Published: October 1, 2026
On Wednesday morning, a pilot on flydubai Flight 737 Max from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed the other pilot in the cockpit over Saudi airspace. The aircraft plunged 14,000 feet, was stabilized by a third pilot, and landed safely in Tabuk where the attacker is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
A flydubai Boeing 737‑Max, carrying about 170 passengers, was on its final hour of flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a pilot repeatedly stabbed the other pilot in the cockpit on Wednesday morning.
Passengers only noticed when the cockpit door was ajar; Natan Grempel, a return‑traveler, saw the attack and heard screams. A passenger rushed in, followed by another, while a third pilot seated in the rear seized control.
The aircraft nosedived 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the rear pilot stabilized it and the crew guided it to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Photos show the vertical stabilizer missing, evidence of a violent descent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the event a serious security incident, praising the crew and passengers who intervened. The attacker, whose identity remains undisclosed, is now in Saudi custody.
Saudi investigators will review cockpit logs and flight data to determine how the crew was able to regain control. The incident is prompting a review of cockpit access and pilot background checks.