Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Saudi Arabia Rejects Israeli Request After Emergency Flydubai Landing
A flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when something dangerous happened in the cockpit.
Israel’s prime minister said the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the plane.
Passengers stopped the co-pilot from taking control.
Other pilots then landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Israel wanted military planes to collect the Israeli passengers.
Saudi Arabia said no to that request, according to security sources.
The passengers were expected to continue their trip on flydubai aircraft.
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations.
Saudi Arabia rejected Israel’s request to let Israeli military planes retrieve passengers from an emergency-landed flydubai flight.
The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when its co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash the plane, according to Benjamin Netanyahu.
Passengers restrained the co-pilot while other pilots landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu said.
Israel was preparing to send Super Hercules aircraft, but passengers ultimately were expected to continue on flydubai planes.
Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and did not immediately comment on the request.
- Who
- Israeli passengers, the flydubai crew, Saudi Arabian authorities, and Israeli officials were involved.
- What
- Saudi Arabia rejected Israel’s request to allow Israeli military planes to retrieve passengers after a flydubai emergency landing.
- When
- The incident and request were reported on Wednesday, September 30.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and landed in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The flight made an emergency landing after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft.
- Airline
- flydubai
- Flight route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Emergency landing
- Saudi Arabia
- Israeli retrieval plan
- The Israeli air force was preparing to send Super Hercules aircraft.
- Saudi decision
- Saudi Arabia rejected the request, according to two security sources.
- Passenger plans
- Passengers were expected to continue their journey on flydubai aircraft.
- Diplomatic context
- Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel.