{
  "id": 10963988,
  "title": "Passengers helped stop knife attack in cockpit of Israel-bound plane, witnesses say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/passengers-helped-stop-knife-attack-in-cockpit-of-israel-bound-plane",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T13:47:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/world/passengers-helped-stop/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A disturbing incident unfolded on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, as passengers recounted how they intervened during a knife attack in the cockpit. The plane, en route from Dubai, was reportedly hijacked by one of the pilots, who was stabbed by an assailant. Both the captain and first officer sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital upon the plane's emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene, with \"terrible screams throughout the plane\" as three to five individuals stormed the cockpit and subdued the attacker. The brave passengers took control of the flight, reportedly \"taking control of the flight\" from the assailant wielding a knife. Meanwhile, two other pilots who were seated at the back reportedly joined in to help land the plane. The emergency situation was triggered two hours into the flight when the plane signaled an emergency code, later upgraded to a hijacking code, before reverting to a general emergency signal. The aircraft plummeted 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) within minutes, raising concerns about the severity of the attacker's actions. Flydubai dispatched a recovery plane to Tabuk airport to retrieve the stranded passengers, which arrived at 12:43 BST (14:43 local time).",
  "summary": "Passengers say a pilot on a Dubai to Tel Aviv flight was stabbed before the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The airport where the plane landed says both the captain and first officer sustained injuries – but does not say how. Both have been taken to hospital. It now appears this may have been […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10963988.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Israel-bound plane rerouted, pilots wounded in reported fight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israel-bound-plane-rerouted-pilots-wounded-in-reported-fight",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:30:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Omani pilot allegedly stabs captain and tries to crash Israel-bound plane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/omani-pilot-allegedly-stabs-captain-and-tries-to-crash-israel-bound",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Pilot reportedly stabs another on Israel-bound plane, concerns of possible hijacking",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/pilot-reportedly-stabs-another-on-israel-bound-plane-concerns-of",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:42:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Co-pilot tried to crash Israel-bound plane: Passenger",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/co-pilot-tried-to-crash-israel-bound-plane-passenger",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:58:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Suspicion grows: Omani co-pilot may have tried to crash Israel-bound flight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/suspicion-grows-omani-co-pilot-may-have-tried-to-crash-israel-bound",
        "published": "2026-09-30T13:09:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bangkok Post",
        "title": "Israel-bound plane diverted after cockpit stabbing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/israel-bound-plane-diverted-after-cockpit-stabbing",
        "published": "2026-09-30T14:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Passengers describe stabbing on Israel-bound plane",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/passengers-describe-stabbing-on-israel-bound-plane",
        "published": "2026-09-30T15:07:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}