Passengers and crew on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv subdued a co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to bring down the aircraft. The plane lost altitude rapidly before an off-duty British pilot and others regained control, helping avert what Israeli officials described as a potential mass-casualty attack.

The aircraft, carrying about 180 passengers, descended from 33,000 to 17,000 feet in roughly a minute and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar was injured but reportedly fought off the co-pilot and opened the cockpit door; passengers then restrained the attacker. Israel closed its airspace and scrambled warplanes, while the alleged assailant was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities.