> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bushletter.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Netanyahu alleges co-pilot tried to crash jet carrying 174 people - URL: https://www.bushletter.com/netanyahu-alleges-co-pilot-tried-to-crash-jet-carrying-174-people/ - Published: 2026-10-01T05:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-01T07:58:42.000Z - Description: Two off-duty pilots landed the jet safely in Saudi Arabia with 174 people aboard. Flydubai has suspended all Israel flights pending investigation. - Author: Editor - Tags: News, flydubai ![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png) By **Caleb Reed** · 2026-10-01 TLDR A Flydubai co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight carrying 174 people. Passengers and off-duty crew restrained the attacker and landed the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai has suspended all Israel flights pending investigation. ## Cockpit attack on flight FZ1073 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the second pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board.[\[1\]](https://www.gov.il/en/pages/event-dubai300926?ref=bushletter.com) The Boeing 737, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073, was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September 2026 with 174 people on board when the cockpit incident occurred. Passengers and off-duty crew rushed the cockpit and restrained the co-pilot using cable ties and headphone cords. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers took control of the aircraft. Flydubai confirmed an altercation occurred in the flight deck. The aircraft was secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport, the airline said.[\[2\]](https://news.flydubai.com/updates-on-fz-1073-dxb-tlv-on-30-september-2026?ref=bushletter.com) ABC News (Australia): Netanyahu praises passengers who intervened in flydubai plane attack | ABC NEWS Benjamin Netanyahu @netanyahu One of the pilots stabbed the second pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board. [2026-09-30 · View on X](https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2105308474590593316?ref=bushletter.com) ## Timeline and official response Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk received a distress call from FZ1073 at 08:44 a.m. local time and the aircraft landed safely at 09:45 a.m., with both the captain and first officer injured and transported to hospital.[\[3\]](https://m.akhbarelyom.com/news/NewDetails/4884799/1/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-?ref=bushletter.com) The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said the incident was brought under control before the diversion to Tabuk Airport, where the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.[\[4\]](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/09/30/KMR13?ref=bushletter.com) Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot on the ground at Tabuk after the landing, with the captain and first officer transported to hospital for treatment. ## Where the accounts diverge Flydubai's statement described the event only as an altercation in the flight deck and made no reference to a stabbing or an attempted crash. Its public account covered the altercation and the crew's diversion and landing at Tabuk Airport.[\[2\]](https://news.flydubai.com/updates-on-fz-1073-dxb-tlv-on-30-september-2026?ref=bushletter.com) Netanyahu's characterisation went further than anything the airline or UAE regulator said publicly, alleging the co-pilot tried to destroy the aircraft with 174 people on board during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. The UAE authority confirmed crew members were injured and taken to hospital. It offered no details on how the incident unfolded or how the captain and first officer were hurt.[\[4\]](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/09/30/KMR13?ref=bushletter.com) UAE and Saudi authorities are conducting a joint investigation, and neither has described the event as a hijacking in its public statements about flight FZ1073. ## Misinformation spread online False video purportedly showing the incident circulated widely on social media after the flight landed, presenting unrelated footage as if it showed events aboard flight FZ1073\. ABC Verify reported that one post pushing a 'false flag' claim about the flight was viewed more than 1.5 million times.[\[5\]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-01/what-to-know-about-the-terrifying-flydubai-flight-forced-to-land/107214766?ref=bushletter.com) Flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel following the incident. It said the suspension would remain while authorities investigate the altercation, the injuries and the diversion to Tabuk.[\[2\]](https://news.flydubai.com/updates-on-fz-1073-dxb-tlv-on-30-september-2026?ref=bushletter.com) No date for the resumption of Israel services has been announced, and the airline's Israel services remain suspended. KEY TAKEAWAYS 01Israeli PM Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane with 174 people aboard. 02Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport. 03Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Airport received the distress call at 08:44 a.m. and the aircraft landed safely at 09:45 a.m. 04Both the captain and first officer were hospitalised; Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot. 05Flydubai suspended all Israel flights while UAE and Saudi authorities investigate the incident. SOURCES & CITATIONS 1. [Flydubai updates on FZ1073 DXB-TLV, 30 September 2026](https://news.flydubai.com/updates-on-fz-1073-dxb-tlv-on-30-september-2026?ref=bushletter.com) 2. [UAE General Civil Aviation Authority statement via Sharjah24](https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/09/30/KMR13?ref=bushletter.com) 3. [Israeli Government, Prime Minister Netanyahu statement](https://www.gov.il/en/pages/event-dubai300926?ref=bushletter.com) 4. [Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport statement, Akhbar El Yom](https://m.akhbarelyom.com/news/NewDetails/4884799/1/%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2-?ref=bushletter.com) 5. [ABC Verify, What to know about the Flydubai flight](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-01/what-to-know-about-the-terrifying-flydubai-flight-forced-to-land/107214766?ref=bushletter.com) 6. [ABC News, Passengers recount Flydubai flight](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-01/passengers-recount-flydubai-flight/107214804?ref=bushletter.com) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What happened on Flydubai flight FZ1073? The co-pilot of the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight allegedly stabbed the captain on 30 September 2026 and, according to Israeli PM Netanyahu, attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers and off-duty crew restrained the attacker and two off-duty pilots landed the jet safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Were any passengers injured? Flydubai and UAE authorities said all passengers are safe and accounted for. Both the captain and first officer were injured and transported to hospital in Tabuk. Are Flydubai flights to Israel still operating? No. Flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel following the incident. No restart date has been announced. ![Caleb Reed](https://res.cloudinary.com/dz77sb7j1/image/upload/v1774262572/bushletter/authors/caleb-reed.png) [Caleb Reed](https://bushletter.com/author/caleb-reed/?ref=bushletter.com) Caleb Reed covers breaking news and sport. He works to the rhythm of a story as it unfolds, and he is happiest when the facts arrive faster than anyone can spin them.