Israel investigates security lapse after foiled Flydubai flight attack
Israeli security agencies are investigating an attempted hijacking aboard a Flydubai flight, where an Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain before being restrained by passengers.
Israeli security authorities are investigating how an Omani co-pilot managed to bypass screening procedures before attempting to crash a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to official reports and witness statements, the co-pilot stabbed the aircraft's Emirati captain mid-flight. Passengers and crew restrained the attacker using headphone cables, allowing another pilot to assume control and perform an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Following the incident, Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, and Israel requested a temporary suspension of Flydubai flights into its airspace. A second Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was subsequently turned back to Dubai. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the event as a "jihadist terrorist attack," comparing it to the September 11 assaults in the United States. Passengers have since landed in Tel Aviv aboard a replacement aircraft.
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, 05:30 AM UTCIsrael investigates foiled Flydubai hijacking attempt as terrorism
- 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