Flydubai flight diverted after co-pilot attacks captain amid Israeli election tension

During a scheduled Flydubai service from Dubai to Tel Aviv, a fight erupted in the cockpit when the Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain, endangering the aircraft. Two unrelated pilots who happened to be on the flight intervened and successfully executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials detained the co-pilot for questioning.

Israeli leaders, such as the prime minister, the defence minister Israel Katz, and the national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, described the episode as a possible terrorist or jihadist plot, while Flydubai stressed that the cause of the altercation is still being investigated. The incident occurs weeks before Israel’s parliamentary elections and close to the anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, fueling political debate and speculation about security narratives. Critics have accused the government of exploiting the event for electoral gain, and legal threats have been exchanged over related media coverage.