‘Nightmare of a lifetime’: passengers recount chaos on flydubai flight
Video. Passengers on a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight recount the terrifying moments after an altercation erupted in the cockpit. As the plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia, passengers say several people rushed to intervene and helped bring the situation under control.
Updated: 01/10/2026 - 8:01 GMT+2
Passengers on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv have described the terrifying moments they experienced after an altercation broke out between the pilot and co-pilot.
The flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. The passengers later returned to Israel, landing at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
“It’s a nightmare of a lifetime. It's really unbelievable,” passenger Ron said after landing. “No one should have to suffer like that. It’s going to take us a long time to get through this.”
Passengers said the situation quickly became chaotic, with people on board stepping in to intervene.
