Israel investigates foiled Flydubai hijacking attempt as terrorism
Passengers restrained an Omani co-pilot who stabbed the captain during a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, as Israel investigates the foiled hijacking as a terrorist attack.
Israeli officials and passengers have disclosed new details regarding a foiled hijacking attempt aboard a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers reported restraining the Omani co-pilot using headphone cords after he stabbed the Emirati captain in an effort to crash the Boeing 737. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz categorized the incident as a "jihadist terrorist attack", comparing it to the 11 September attacks in the United States.
The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where passengers were subsequently transferred to a replacement flight that landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli security agencies are investigating how the co-pilot bypassed security checks to carry a weapon aboard, prompting Israel to request a temporary suspension of Flydubai flights into its airspace.
Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, El Mundo, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.
How outlets assessed this
- ANSA Alarmed Emphasized official Israeli rhetoric comparing the attempted crash to a jihadist attack akin to 9/11.
- Il Messaggero Critical Focused on potential intelligence and vetting failures regarding foreign airline crews entering Israeli airspace.
- ANSA Alarmed Emphasized official statements labelling the hijacking an attempted jihadist attack and invoking comparisons to 9/11.
- Il Messaggero Cautious Focused on unanswered questions surrounding security screening failures and how the co-pilot brought a weapon aboard.
Sources
- Corriere della Sera — Volo Dubai-Tel Aviv dirottato, gli aggiornamenti in diretta | Israele: «Il co-pilota ha tentato di far schiantare l'aereo». E chiede la sospensione dei voli Flydubai verso il Paese
- El Mundo — Israel investiga como ataque terrorista el incidente del vuelo de Flydubai: "Nos hemos hecho con el control"
- Il Messaggero — Volo Dubai-Tel Aviv, chi è il copilota omanita e come ha fatto a evitare i controlli: il giallo della doppia cittadinanza e «l'arma» portata a bordo
- La Repubblica — Un testimone sul volo Dubai-Tel Aviv: “Abbiamo immobilizzato l’assalitore con i cavi delle cuffie”
- ANSA — Paura in volo, copilota accoltella comandante. Israele evoca l'11/9 Katz: 'Tentato attacco jihadista'
Earlier coverage
- Oct 5, 2026, 10:30 PM UTCIsrael investigates Flydubai flight hijacking attempt by co-pilot
- Oct 4, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCIsrael investigates Flydubai flight attack after co-pilot stabs captain
- Oct 4, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCIsrael investigates security lapse after foiled Flydubai flight attack
- Oct 3, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCIsrael scrambles jets and reviews security after Flydubai hijack attempt
- Oct 3, 2026, 02:30 PM UTCIsrael investigates attempted Flydubai hijacking as terror attack
- Oct 3, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCIsrael demands Flydubai flight suspension following attempted cockpit hijacking
- Oct 3, 2026, 04:00 AM UTCIsrael investigates attempted hijack of Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv
- Oct 2, 2026, 10:30 AM UTCIsraeli agencies investigate attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight
- Oct 2, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCIsraeli agencies probe security breaches after Flydubai flight hijacking attempt
- Oct 2, 2026, 01:30 AM UTCIsrael investigates security breach after co-pilot attempts to hijack Flydubai flight