PILOT STABBED ON DUBAI-TEL AVIV FLIGHT, PLANE DIVERTED TO SAUDI ARABIA

A pilot stabbed another pilot aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and "apparently tried to crash the plane", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. The aircraft dropped 17,000ft in less than two minutes before crew diverted it to land in Saudi Arabia, according to Netanyahu's account. Passengers on board described the moment the attack unfolded, with one man captured on video calling for help. The Independent reported that Israeli officials characterised the incident as an attempted terror attack carried out through the stabbing in the cockpit.

Flydubai operates flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, and the aircraft involved was en route between the two cities when the stabbing occurred. Eyewitness accounts from inside the cabin, shared on social media, captured the alarm among passengers as the plane lost altitude sharply. The diversion took the aircraft to Saudi Arabia rather than its intended destination of Tel Aviv. Details of the condition of the pilot who was stabbed have not been confirmed in the reporting so far.

Netanyahu's characterisation of the incident as an attempted crash has not yet been corroborated by an independent investigation. Authorities have not confirmed the identities of the pilots involved or a motive for the attack. Further details on the passengers, the airline's response and any resulting flight disruption have yet to emerge. The story is continuing to develop, with outlets providing live updates as more information becomes available.