Passengers on board a Flydubai flight traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel rushed and overpowered a knife attacker after a pilot was wounded in mid-air.
Footage published by the Israeli television network N12 on its Facebook page captured a male passenger describing how travellers intervened during the disturbance inside the cabin.
The passenger explained in the video that several men reacted immediately when the assailant struck one of the pilots with a knife. The group charged at the attacker, seized him, and pinned him to the floor to prevent any further danger to those on board. The eyewitness confirmed that he was unhurt during the struggle.
According to the witness account, one pilot sustained severe injuries in the stabbing. A second pilot was also reported to have been injured, but managed to retain control of the aircraft and bring it down safely to land. Two additional flight crew members were present during the incident.
The passenger video followed earlier footage showing the opening seconds of the aircraft seizure. Passengers were recorded screaming as the airliner experienced a sudden drop during the initial moments of the attack.
Flydubai operations and route background
Flydubai, legally incorporated as Dubai Aviation Corporation, is a government-owned budget airline based at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2008, the carrier operates scheduled passenger services to more than one hundred destinations across the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
Direct commercial aviation services connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israel were launched following the signing of diplomatic normalization agreements between the two nations in late 2020. The air corridor handles regular daily flights between Dubai and Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
Channel N12 is a prominent television news broadcaster in Israel, operated by Keshet Media Group. The network provides national news reporting and breaking news coverage across its television broadcasts and digital social media platforms.
