Indian Pilot Hailed as Hero After Cockpit Stabbing
One pilot on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv FlyDubai flight stabbed another pilot Wednesday. Passengers and crew broke into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and brought the plane down safely in Saudi Arabia.
- 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet: the plane dropped in roughly one minute, per Flightradar24.
- 8:44 a.m. local time: Tabuk airport logged the distress call; landing was at 9:45 a.m.
- Both pilots were injured and hospitalized, per Tabuk's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
- Saudi Arabia arrested the pilot suspect, Netanyahu said.
Why it matters: The incident raised immediate hijacking fears given roughly 180 Israelis were on board days before the Oct. 7 anniversary.
- Israel scrambled warplanes as the flight deviated and descended sharply.
- Netanyahu called passengers and crew who intervened "heroes" who "saved many lives."
How 99 sources split on this story
Where they split: Whether the cockpit attack was an organized act of terror or a dispute between the two pilots remains unconfirmed and under investigation.
Center coverage, 41 sources: The center presents the incident factually, noting unconfirmed details and the ongoing investigation while highlighting Netanyahu's praise for those who intervened.
Jerusalem Post0mFlydubai hijacker, wounded pilot accompanied by Emirati security team to UAE, Saudi Arabia says
Reuters10hIsraeli airlines plan to resume Dubai flights after flydubai incidentTITimes of Israel1dCockpit attack puts spotlight on flydubai, a key air link for Israelis since Oct. 7TNDThe National Desk30mIsraeli officials believe attempted hijacker may have been carrying out act of terror
BBC News8hFlight attacker 'underwent Islamist radical indoctrination', Netanyahu says
Semafor2hPilot stabbing on flydubai flight scrambles Israeli elections
USA Today4hHow a bleeding pilot, plumber and spare crew averted a plane crashYNYahoo News1dFlydubai passenger describes putting attacker in chokehold after cockpit stabbing
Newsweek7hWho is Yaniv Hayoun? Israeli plumber pulled hijacked plane out of nosedive
Associated Press1dPilot attempts to crash plane bound for Tel Aviv in latest example of a crew-related hijacking
France 2414hIsrael's Netanyahu says co-pilot tried to crash Tel Aviv-bound planeLeft coverage, 20 sources: The left frames the event as a dramatic but ultimately contained aviation emergency, emphasizing passenger heroism and placing it in the context of regional tensions near the Oct. 7 anniversary.
HuffPost14hIsrael Vows To Get To 'Root' Of FlyDubai Attack
The Independent2hAlleged flight hijacker ’used axe’ to attack co-pilot, Netanyahu claims
Al Jazeera2hFlydubai co-pilot ‘assaulted’ captain before landing: Initial Saudi probeTBGThe Boston Globe3hTerror at 30,000 feet: A plumber and a dentist come to the rescue
CNN19hFlydubai latest: Indian pilot who fought off hijack attempt hailed a hero as passengers describe terror onboard | CNN
The Guardian12hShould cockpits stay locked from the inside? Flydubai stabbing raises flight security questions
ABC News1dTel Aviv flight passengers recount harrowing moments during mid-air attack
NBC News10hWhat we know about the cockpit stabbing on Israel-bound flight
The New York Times1dFlyDubai Flight to Israel Diverted After Clash Between Pilots: What We Know and Don’t Know
Los Angeles Times10hWhy a copilot attacked the captain of an Israel-bound flight remains unknown
Mediaite1d‘Flight 93 Effect’: Fox Expert Praises Israeli Passengers Retaking Control of Hijacked Plane
MSNBC12hAttacker’s motive remains unknown after FlyDubai flight to Israel escapes disasterRight coverage, 38 sources: The right emphasizes the suspected terror motive, cites Israeli security officials' assessments, and frames the event as evidence of ongoing threats to Israel from its enemies.
Fox News22hNetanyahu praises heroic bystander in bloody cockpit attack for preventing ‘another 9/11’
PJ Media1dIsraeli Who Helped Take Down Hijacker Describes Harrowing Scene
New York Post3hSaudi Arabia and Jordan denied flydubai flight clearance to land despite a terrifying mayday call
The Daily Wire1dWhy The Hijacking Was Only A Warning
Daily Mail4hDentist who helped save stabbed Flydubai pilot reveals 'extremist hijacker' repeatedly begged 'kill me' - as new footage emerges of him
The Epoch Times1dNetanyahu Says Suspected Hijacker Underwent ‘Islamist Radical Indoctrination’
Washington Examiner9hWhat to know about investigations into Flydubai hijacking
Townhall8hThere Was a Big Clue That the Omani FlyDubai Hijacker Was a Religious Extremist
Twitchy11h'Did the Terrorist Write This Headline?' CBS Dusts Off a Media Cliché for Hijacking Attempt Update
The Sun17hPilot who tried to pull off ‘Israel’s 9/11’ revealed as ‘religious extremist’ amid probe into how he was cleared to fly
The Western Journal12hMostly Peaceful Hijacking? NYT Backpedals After Headline on Attempted Hijacking Sounds Like Workplace Spat
Wall Street Journal14hAn Israel-Bound Flight Plunged After a Cockpit Stabbing. Then Passengers Intervened.What’s next: A recovery flight was dispatched to Tabuk to bring passengers home to Israel.
- Saudi and Israeli authorities are investigating; FlyDubai said it is working with relevant authorities.
- What was the nationality and identity of the pilot who carried out the stabbing, and what was his motive?
- How did the attacker obtain a weapon on a commercial flight?
- What role, if any, did any external group play in the incident?