A Flydubai jet bound from Dubai to Israel was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia after an on‑board fight between the two pilots, one of whom was stabbed, officials said on Wednesday.

The incident involved a flight carrying about 130 passengers and 10 crew members. Passengers reported a chaotic scene in which a crew member was injured before the aircraft was diverted to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for an emergency landing.

Passengers on board described the scene as chaotic and frightening.

According to reports, the confrontation began shortly after take‑off, when the first‑pilot and the second‑pilot clashed over an undisclosed disagreement. One of the crew members sustained a stab wound, but the aircraft remained controllable. Flight attendants and other crew attempted to restore order while the pilots fought, according to accounts from passengers who were on the flight.

The jet, identified as Flydubai flight FZ1073, turned back toward Jeddah after the crew recognised the danger to the safety of the aircraft. The plane landed safely at King Abdulaziz International Airport, where emergency services were on hand. No passengers or crew were reported dead, although the injured crew member received medical treatment on the ground.

Saudi civil aviation authorities launched an investigation into the incident and have called in forensic experts to examine the cockpit and the injuries sustained. Saudi police are also involved, and the case is being treated as a potential act of violence.

Israeli officials, who have expressed concern over the safety of flights to and from Israel, said the incident “averted a major disaster” and that they suspect an “act of terror”. The Israeli Ministry of Transport has urged the international community to review security protocols for flights operating between the Middle East and Israel.

The incident comes at a time when commercial aviation between the Gulf and Israel has expanded rapidly since the 2020 normalisation of relations. Flydubai, the low‑cost airline owned by the Dubai government, began operating direct flights to Tel Aviv in 2021, a route that had previously been closed to Arab carriers.

Security analysts note that the flight was one of the first few to use the new corridor, and the incident has raised questions about whether heightened security measures are required on these routes. The airline has said it will cooperate fully with the investigation and will review crew training procedures.

Both Saudi and Israeli authorities have pledged to keep the public informed as the investigation proceeds. The airline’s flight schedule for the route will not be immediately affected, but it may be temporarily suspended while authorities determine whether the incident was an isolated incident or part of a broader security threat.

The next scheduled flight on the Dubai‑Tel Aviv route will depart from Dubai Airport on Thursday, with the airline confirming that the aircraft has been inspected and cleared by Saudi aviation authorities.