An incident aboard a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was an attempted terrorist attack, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, according to infohub.kz.

According to RBC, citing a translation of a report by Israeli Channel 12, the head of Israel's defense ministry called the incident an attempted jihadist attack. He said a catastrophe was averted solely thanks to the heroism of several Israeli passengers.

"The incident aboard the FlyDubai plane was an attempted jihadist attack that was prevented only thanks to the heroism of several Israeli passengers who entered the cockpit, subdued the terrorist and single-handedly returned control of the aircraft to another crew of pilots who were there," the minister said.

According to initial information provided by Israel Katz, the terrorist's goal was to crash the plane along with all the passengers.

After the emergency aboard the flight, Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft. It later emerged that the plane landed in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai then told Israeli television that a fight had broken out between the pilots on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.

Soon the first photos and videos from the plane appeared. The image shows a passenger who is believed to have struggled with the attacker. Authorities are investigating the possibility that one of the pilots may have deliberately tried to crash the plane. It is believed that his actions were stopped by the co-pilot and Israeli passengers who fought him and prevented a disaster.

Another version regarding the citizenship of the plane's pilots was also voiced. After the version about Russian and Ukrainian citizenship, reports emerged that the pilots hold Omani and United Arab Emirates citizenship.

Later, information appeared that one of the pilots may have died from stab wounds after the attack.

Media also reported that pilots from Ukraine and Russia were traveling as passengers and took over control of the FlyDubai plane.

It later emerged that the pilot injured in the attack by a colleague aboard the FlyDubai plane was an Indian citizen, Smit Machchhar.