Overview
- Israeli officials say the co‑pilot attacked the captain and then tried to crash the plane on Sept. 30, triggering a rapid plunge that reports put between roughly 14,000 and 17,400 feet.
- The wounded captain opened the cockpit, passengers and crew subdued the alleged attacker, and reserve or off‑duty pilots aboard the flight landed the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Tabuk airport officials reported all passengers were safe and accounted for after the diversion and said both original pilots were hospitalized with injuries.
- FlyDubai has urged caution about motives and causes while United Arab Emirates authorities have opened an investigation that will examine whether the incident involved prior planning or terrorism.
- President Trump publicly praised Boeing and CEO Kelly Ortberg for the jet’s performance on Oct. 1, a comment that renews political focus on Boeing as the 737 MAX’s 2019–20 grounding and a 2020 Congressional probe remain part of the model’s record.