A flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, from Dubai to Tel Aviv made a harrowing emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent struggle inside the cockpit left the captain stabbed and briefly sent the jet plunging toward the earth, according to multiple accounts from officials and passengers aboard.

The confrontation broke out between the flight's two pilots. According to reporting from the Washington Post, the co-pilot — an Omani national — is suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft during the altercation. He was stabbed in the struggle before being subdued by the captain, an Indian national, with help from passengers seated nearby. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later praised the wounded captain as, in the words relayed by his office, a hero who saved everyone aboard.

A Terrifying Drop

Flight-tracking data cited by CNN's live coverage showed the Boeing narrowbody plummeting roughly 17,400 feet in under two minutes during the chaos, a drop that would have been felt violently throughout the cabin. More than 100 of the passengers were Israeli, flying home on what should have been a routine Gulf-to-Israel route.

Passenger Yaniv Hayoun, in an account relayed to Israeli media and later recounted to the prime minister, described helping subdue the attacker — passengers say they physically restrained him, got him into a chokehold and pulled him out of the cockpit before the captain, despite his wound, returned to the controls.

PASSENGERS SAY THEY PUT THE ATTACKER IN A CHOKEHOLD AND DRAGGED HIM FROM THE COCKPIT

With the aircraft still over Jordanian airspace, the crew diverted south and made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia rather than continuing on to Tel Aviv or turning back to Dubai. Saudi authorities and airport personnel met the aircraft on the ground, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and passengers were held for processing before being cleared to continue their journey.

Passengers Say They're Shaken But Safe

All 174 people on board survived the incident. Israeli officials, tracking the situation closely given the concentration of Israeli nationals aboard, said passengers were eventually flown back to Israel following medical checks and questioning by Saudi authorities. The captain was hospitalized for his stab wound; his condition has not been described as life-threatening.

Investigators in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where flydubai is based, are examining what triggered the cockpit confrontation and whether it meets the legal definition of an attempted hijacking or an isolated violent act by one crew member. The Times of Israel's live coverage reported that Israeli aviation and security officials were in direct contact with Saudi and Emirati counterparts through the day as the investigation opened.

flydubai has not yet released a full statement detailing the cause of the altercation or the current employment status of either pilot. The airline confirmed the diversion and said it was cooperating with the relevant aviation authorities.

What's Next

Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel do not share a straightforward diplomatic history, making the emergency landing itself notable — Tabuk lies well within Saudi territory that Israeli commercial flights do not typically approach. Aviation analysts say the smooth, cooperative handling of the landing, despite the political sensitivities, reflects the quieter security coordination that has developed across the region in recent years. A full account of the cockpit struggle, including whether any warning signs were missed pre-flight, is expected once Saudi and UAE investigators complete their review.