{
  "id": 11059374,
  "title": "Tel Aviv flight passengers recount harrowing moments during mid-air attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/tel-aviv-flight-passengers-recount-harrowing-moments-during-mid-air",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T23:27:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/International/tel-aviv-flight-passengers-recount-harrowing-moments-mid/story?id=136895547"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Passengers on FlyDubai Flight 1073 recounted harrowing moments during an alleged mid-air attack on Wednesday. The passengers, primarily Israeli citizens, expressed fear and anger after surviving what Israeli officials described as an attempted terror attack thousands of feet in the air. After the ordeal, the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where the injured pilot was taken to a hospital and passengers were repatriated later that day. The suspect remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.\n\nAccording to Israeli officials, the plane's first officer allegedly stabbed the captain and then rapidly descended the aircraft. Passengers described feeling the impact almost immediately, with one describing it as \"chaos, screaming, and a crazy drop.\" Another passenger, Miram, recounted hearing screams from the cockpit and witnessing the bloody pilot, saying, \"We felt like we were, like, going to crash.\"\n\nPassengers worked together to subdue the suspect, while another crew member managed to regain control of the plane. Itzhak Liber, a passenger, shared his experience via a Facebook post, expressing relief that they were safely landing in Saudi Arabia. The passengers arrived back in Tel Aviv to a warm welcome, expressing gratitude for surviving what they described as a close call.",
  "summary": "Passengers aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 recounted frightening moments after a suspect allegedly attacked a pilot and attempted to bring down the plane.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Pilot attempts to crash plane bound for Tel Aviv in latest example of a crew-related hijacking",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/pilot-attempts-to-crash-plane-bound-for-tel-aviv-in-latest-example-of",
        "published": "2026-09-30T20:06:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Flydubai passengers arrive in Tel Aviv after pilot stabbing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/flydubai-passengers-arrive-in-tel-aviv-after-pilot-stabbing",
        "published": "2026-09-30T21:12:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}