🛬 Passengers return to Israel: A flydubai rescue flight carrying approximately 180 passengers, mostly Israelis, landed safely at Ben Gurion International Airport after being escorted by fighter jets. Their earlier Dubai–Tel Aviv flight had made an emergency landing at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Airport following an alleged cockpit attack.
Saudi Arabia refused both an IDF evacuation flight using a C-130 Hercules and an El Al-operated option. Israel also considered sending an unmarked aircraft, pending Saudi approval. The replacement flydubai flight proceeded after the Mossad approved its crew, ending an initial departure delay. Its departure was described as the first flight from Saudi Arabia to Israel.
🔎 Alleged attack, passenger intervention and investigation: The copilot allegedly stabbed the pilot in a suspected attempt to crash the aircraft. Passenger footage showed a rapid plunge, while flight-tracking data indicated a drop of more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Tabuk Airport said it declared an emergency after receiving a distress call, that the aircraft landed safely, and that both pilots were injured and taken to hospital.
Netanyahu described an “extremely serious security incident” and said one of the pilots apparently tried to crash the aircraft with everyone aboard. Relaying a passenger’s account, he said the aircraft went into a spin and nosedive before the passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit and subdued the pilot carrying out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems. An Israeli passenger who intervened said: “We pounced forcefully on the pilot and tied him up with the headphones.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident “a jihadist terrorist attack attempt.” He credited several Israeli passengers with breaking into the cockpit, overpowering the attacker and restoring control to another flight crew aboard. Katz said initial information indicated the attacker intended to crash the aircraft with all its passengers. A nationalist motive remains unconfirmed, although suspicion of such a motive is growing.
An Israeli security official told i24 News that Israel is investigating a possible Iranian connection. According to the official, the copilot is of Omani origin, while the main pilot was Emirati and prevented him from taking control. Channel 12’s Amit Segal reported that the Omani copilot boarded with an axe.
Netanyahu said the pilot who allegedly carried out the stabbing had been arrested and was being interrogated by Saudi authorities. Israel is awaiting the investigation’s results. Mossad Chief Roman Gofman is coordinating the incident response, communications with Saudi authorities and the investigation itself.
🛡️ Security preparations and UAE flights: Netanyahu ordered the security agencies to prepare for additional potential threats. A heated clash also took place between the Shin Bet chief and the transportation minister during a discussion about continuing flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Katz urged everyone, including “our enemies abroad” and “out-of-date former officials at home,” to take his and Netanyahu’s intelligence-based warnings seriously. He said those warnings have multiple intended audiences and purposes, and neither replace nor come at the expense of the proactive and offensive operations they are leading with the IDF against every threat.
Separately, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told the Emiratis: “Just as hosting American bases did not bring you security, neither will hosting the butcher of Gaza.”
🔁 Know someone who would appreciate these updates? Please pass this along.
🗨️ Join the discussion, read on web & subscribe by email: https://www.israelrealtime.com/p/subscribe