A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a distress signal indicated a potential hijacking attempt. The incident involved an altercation in the cockpit, prompting Israel to scramble warplanes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that one of the pilots allegedly stabbed the other and then attempted to crash the aircraft. He added that Israel was increasing its readiness for "potential threats" following the event. However, official confirmation of a hijacking attempt remains pending.

Flydubai confirmed an altercation occurred on the flight deck, assuring that all passengers were safe and accounted for. The airline stated that the flight was secured by onboard crew members. Officials at Saudi Arabia's Tabuk airport, where the plane landed, confirmed that both the captain and the first officer sustained injuries and were hospitalized.

This incident occurred as the UAE has become a significant tourist destination for Israelis following the normalization of ties between the two nations in 2020. The diversion and the nature of the incident raise concerns about aviation security and the potential for internal threats within flight crews.

Footage circulating from the aircraft appears to show the captain on the cabin floor with apparent stab wounds, and a passenger with a head injury. Other videos depict passengers in distress as the plane experienced severe turbulence. One passenger's mother recounted her daughter's fear that they would "die" as the plane "started to lose control."

Flight tracking data revealed a rapid descent of approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, occurring about two and a half hours after departure. Flightradar24 reported that an initial general emergency signal (code 7700) was issued, followed by a signal for "unlawful interference" (code 7500).

Some passengers, seated towards the front of the plane, reportedly entered the cockpit after noticing the uncontrolled descent and realizing something was critically wrong. The situation escalated significantly about an hour before the scheduled landing.

Details surrounding the specific cause of the altercation and the extent of the injuries sustained by the pilots are still emerging. The involvement of a pilot in an alleged attempt to harm a colleague and crash the plane represents a rare and alarming scenario in commercial aviation.