Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight lands in Saudi Arabia after cockpit attack

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a passenger attacked the captain in the cockpit. According to accounts that emerged afterwards, the attacker was stopped through the intervention of some passengers and crew members, while a second team of two pilots, dressed in civilian clothes, helped regain control of the aircraft and fly the Boeing to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The injured commander was identified by several media outlets as Indian pilot Sumit Machchhar, a highly experienced pilot with thousands of flight hours, who reportedly kept fighting the attacker despite his injuries, giving others time to intervene. The co-pilot was reportedly taken into custody by Saudi authorities after landing, and both pilots were reportedly taken to hospital. Passengers then returned to Tel Aviv on another flight.