Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Pilot Attack Prompts Emergency Landing, Recalls Past Crew Incidents
A pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the other pilot.
The passengers and crew stopped him.
The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and authorities detained the pilot.
Israel sent warplanes to check what was happening because the plane suddenly descended.
The incident reminded people of earlier cases involving pilots or crew members.
In some cases, crew members tried to hijack planes or make them crash.
Some crashes killed everyone aboard, while other hijacking attempts ended without deaths.
Investigators have not always agreed about what caused certain crashes.
For example, Egyptian authorities disagreed with American investigators about the cause of an EgyptAir crash.
A pilot on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight allegedly stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the Boeing 737.
Passengers and crew subdued the pilot before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft’s abrupt descent prompted Israel to scramble warplanes amid concerns about a possible hijacking.
Past incidents include deliberate crashes, cockpit struggles and hijacking attempts involving pilots or other crew members.
Some investigations remain disputed, including the 1999 EgyptAir crash and the 1994 Royal Air Maroc crash.
- Who
- An unnamed pilot, the other pilot, passengers and crew on a Boeing 737; Saudi authorities detained the unnamed pilot.
- What
- The unnamed pilot allegedly stabbed the other pilot and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft before being subdued.
- When
- Wednesday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- On a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv; the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The apparent attack and abrupt descent raised concerns about a possible hijacking; the pilot's motive was not stated.
Findings Supporting Deliberate Action
Alternative or Unresolved Explanations
EgyptAir Flight 990
Findings Supporting Deliberate Action
American investigators concluded that co-pilot Gameel Al-Batouti set the aircraft on course to crash and shut off the engines.
Alternative or Unresolved Explanations
Egyptian authorities disputed that conclusion and determined that mechanical failure caused the crash.
Royal Air Maroc Crash
Findings Supporting Deliberate Action
Investigators determined that pilot Younes Khayati switched off the autopilot and deliberately sent the aircraft into the Atlas Mountains.
Alternative or Unresolved Explanations
A union representing pilots disputed the investigators' findings.
China Eastern Flight 5735
Findings Supporting Deliberate Action
Data released by American investigators suggested that the engines were deliberately shut off and that a cockpit struggle preceded the crash.
Alternative or Unresolved Explanations
Chinese authorities had not released their final investigative report, so the cause remained officially unresolved in the article.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Emergency landing
- Saudi Arabia
- People aboard
- Passengers and crew subdued the pilot
- Security response
- Israel scrambled warplanes after an abrupt descent
- Earlier fatal incident
- The Germanwings crash killed all 150 people aboard in 2015
- Earlier successful hijacking
- An Ethiopian Airlines co-pilot diverted a flight to Geneva in 2014; no passengers were harmed
- Investigation dispute
- Egyptian authorities blamed mechanical failure for the 1999 EgyptAir crash, while American investigators concluded the co-pilot deliberately set the plane on course to crash