Flydubai Flight Diverted After Co-Pilot Attacks Pilot, Passengers Safe

Baltimore, MD, October 1, 2026 — An incident aboard a Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv resulted in an emergency diversion and the safe landing of the aircraft. The flight, carrying more than 170 passengers, experienced a severe mid-air event when the co-pilot reportedly attacked the pilot.

Following the alleged assault by the co-pilot, the aircraft entered a steep dive, causing alarm among those on board. The situation was reportedly brought under control by the intervention of reserve pilots who were also on the flight. These pilots took over the controls and successfully navigated the plane to a safe landing.

The destination chosen for the emergency landing was Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All passengers and crew are reported to have disembarked safely in Tabuk. Details regarding the cause of the co-pilot’s actions or the specific timeline of the events during the dive and subsequent landing were not immediately available.

The airline, Flydubai, has not released an immediate official statement regarding the incident, and information about the status of the co-pilot or the pilot involved was not provided. The number of reserve pilots on board who assisted in the landing was also not specified. Investigations into the incident are expected to follow.

Story summarized from the original created by Jeffrey Kluger on time.com, see more information here.