Omani Co-Pilot Arrested After Stabbing FlyDubai Captain on Flight to Israel

Authorities are investigating the motive behind an Omani pilot's attack on the captain of a FlyDubai flight en route to Israel, which led to a dramatic descent before the crew regained control and safely landed in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers—predominantly Israelis—was traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv. The injured Indian captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter, where they subdued the co-pilot and stabilized the dangerously steep descent that had caused the plane's rudder to detach. Asaf Rajuan, a passenger who intervened, expressed, "We felt helpless, suspended in mid-air... it was all instinct to survive." An official involved in the investigation confirmed the arrest of the Omani suspect and noted collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and the United States to uncover the motive.