Flydubai attempted hijacking

Arab media reactions to flydubai hijacking attempt mixed between cautious, sensational

In the first hours of Arab media coverage, a clear divide emerged. As reports spread beyond Dubai, additional and increasingly serious claims emerged.

|ByELI LEON
Passengers queue at the flydubai counters in Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev is seen at Ben-Gurion Airport, central Israel, May 4, 2025

Regev orders flydubai flights to Israel halted over hijacking pilot's Omani background, sources say

Flydubai’s agreement to operate in Israel explicitly states that all pilots must be from countries that have normalized relations with Israel, which does not include Oman.

|BySHIR PERETS
Opposition leader Yair Lapid speaks during a press conference as part of the Together party election campaign in Tel Aviv, central Israel, August 19, 2026.

Lapid: Nothing close to flydubai incident discussed during latest security briefing with Netanyahu

Lapid issued the statement following the incident aboard a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an apparent attempt by a pilots to seize control of the aircraft.

|BySHIR PERETS
An airplane of budget airline flydubai lands at Israel's Ben Gurion aiport near Tel Aviv on November 26, 2020 on the first scheduled commercial service between the two cities, following the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel.

'The plane suddenly plunged': Israeli passengers recount chaos aboard flydubai flight

"From what I understand, the pilot tried to kill himself together with us," one passenger said. "Some of the passengers helped the other pilot take control of him until they landed the plane."

|ByZVIKA KLEIN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF, AMIR BOHBOT

What happens if pilots clash mid-flight? Emirati law explained after flydubai plane incident

UAE aviation regulations prohibit assaults, threats, or intimidation against crew members when such conduct interferes with or impairs their ability to perform their duties.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2026ByELI LEON
The logos of 'flydubai' and 'Emirates' feature on displays at the Dubai Airshow, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 17, 2025.

Israel says pilot tried to hijack flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that diverted, landed in Saudi Arabia

Israeli official says “major disaster avoided” after pilot stabbed his co-pilot, attempted to hijack aircraft with over 100 Israeli passengers • Israelis on board helped subdue would-be hijacker

SEPTEMBER 30, 2026ByAMICHAI STEIN, JAMES GENN, YONAH JEREMY BOB, ZVIKA KLEIN
Damage done to rudder of flydubai flight after suspected attempted hijacking, September 30, 2026.