Saudi Arabia Opens Probe Into Flydubai Cockpit Stabbing

Saudi Arabia has opened an aviation safety investigation into a Sept. 30, 2026 cockpit attack on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot attacked the captain in Saudi airspace, forcing an emergency landing. Nearly all of the 172 people aboard were Israeli citizens. Saudi Arabia's National Transport Safety Center will run the probe after notifying international aviation authorities. The UAE opened a separate criminal investigation; its prosecutor general called the incident a terrorist attack. Reuters-sourced outlets say the co-pilot used an axe. Ofer Vaknin, head of Israel's air accident agency, told Reuters the country offered to join but is still waiting: "We are still waiting for a notification from Saudi Arabia to invite us to take a part in the investigation." A JFeed-cited source said Israel would have joined but was never invited. Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations. The U.S. NTSB is expected to be involved because the Boeing 737 MAX was built in the United States; the UAE is expected to take part as the aircraft is UAE-registered. JFeed said Saudi Arabia may also review Israeli overflight procedures. Outlets report the flight as FZ1073 or 1274.