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'I pulled the controls': Passenger tells Israeli PM how he helped stop attacker

www.bbc.co.uk • October 1, 2026

A passenger on the diverted Flydubai flight has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu how he and others helped stop the cockpit attack.

The man, who was greeted by the prime minister at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, explained how he helped pin the alleged attacker to the ground and pull the plane's controls backwards to stop it nosediving.

The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia after plummeting 17,000ft in less than two minutes.

Passengers have since safely landed in Tel Aviv after a replacement Flydubai plane transported them to their destination.

Subsection Middle East

Published 4 hours ago

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This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

Pilot Stabs Co-Pilot, Attempts to Crash Flydubai Flight to Israel On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly stabbed the co-pilot and attempted to crash the plane. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the incident, stating that the plane dropped approximately 17,000 feet in under two minutes, triggering emergency signals. Passengers and crew managed to subdue the assailant, who has been arrested and is being interrogated by Saudi authorities. The flight was carrying around 150 passengers, mostly Israeli nationals. Israeli officials are treating the incident as a potential terrorist attack, with heightened security measures implemented across airlines. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation, and the situation is ongoing. 34 sources 73

'I pulled the controls': Passenger tells Israeli PM how he helped stop attacker

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