Captain praised after cockpit attack on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight

Passengers and crew overpowered a co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain; the UAE has opened a terrorism investigation.

Daily Alba · 2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Illustrative image of an airliner galley and cockpit door; not the aircraft involved. Illustrative image, not a photograph of the reported event.

Investigators are trying to establish why a co-pilot allegedly attacked his captain on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 174 passengers, DW reports.

What happened

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot stabbed the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane. The injured captain, an Indian national, opened the cockpit door; passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, and off-duty Flydubai crew landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Investigation

The UAE’s chief prosecutor is examining possible terrorist intent. Reports say the captain is in stable condition.

Source & attribution: This original report is based on DW, published 2 October 2026. This is not independent on-the-ground reporting.

Captain praised after cockpit attack on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight

What happened

Investigation

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