Passengers aboard a FlyDubai flight described scenes of panic after the Boeing 737 Max 8 suddenly plunged thousands of feet during a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Terrifying footage shared on X appears to show passengers struggling to move through a shaking cabin as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
The flight ultimately diverted to Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing in Tabuk. Footage captures the panic inside the cabin. Passengers can be seen struggling to steady themselves, while screams and cries echo throughout the aircraft.
FlightAware data cited by The New York Post indicates the plane dropped from about 34,000 feet to around 15,400 feet in just 12 minutes.
Israeli officials allege that one of the pilots attacked the other with a knife before attempting to take control of the aircraft.
“One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do 9/11,” an official told Channel 12, according to VT.
The alleged attack prompted passengers to intervene.
Passengers rushed toward the cockpit
Passenger Dalia Shpigel told Haaretz that the aircraft suddenly began to “dive,” according to BBC News. She said: “Suddenly there were terrible screams throughout the plane.”
She recalled seeing “three to five guys burst into the cockpit” and overpower the person who had allegedly attacked the pilot.
“We realized that the situation was stabilising and continued the flight. Gradually, information began to emerge about what had happened in the cockpit,” Shpigel said.
She said the “young men” who intervened subsequently began helping other passengers.
Other footage appears to show passengers and crew members with blood covering their clothing and bodies.
“We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane. At this point, we’ve subdued the terrorists,” one passenger said in a video while blood could be seen running down his head.
Another passenger described the terrifying experience to I24 News.
“We were either going to crash or be murdered,” the passenger said. “It was like a terrorist attack in mid-air.”
FlyDubai Boeing 737 Max 8
One passenger gave another account of the frantic moments inside the aircraft. She said a crew member “tried to crash the plane”.
“Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband understood what was happening and rushed to the front of the plane,” she said. “Along with other Israelis they neutralized the terrorist.”
The plane’s rudder was damaged during the rapid descent. FlyDubai said it was cooperating with authorities following the incident.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available,” the spokesperson said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation was under control as authorities worked to find alternative flights for the passengers.
Netanyahu also said, “the pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities.”
Read more:
