JERUSALEM/DUBAI – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that a pilot aboard a Flydubai flight carrying mostly Israeli passengers stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane before passengers and crew subdued him.

The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said the suspected attacker had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities. He said Israel was in continuous contact with "the relevant authorities."

Describing the incident as "extremely serious," he said the aircraft went into a spin and began plunging as it approached Israel. He said an Israeli passenger and a crew member broke into the cockpit and subdued the attacking pilot as he tried "to sabotage" the aircraft's systems, while flight crew members took control of the plane.

Tzvika Mens, who said he helped overpower the attacker, told Israeli state-owned Kan TV news from aboard the plane that he and two others restrained the attacker using the cords from complimentary headphones provided to passengers on the flight.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as a "jihadist terror attack" in a statement. Israeli security agencies were on high alert and instructed to prepare for "possible additional threats," according to Netanyahu's office.

Flydubai flight FZ1073 had plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before transmitting emergency signals, according to flight-tracking data. Israeli officials earlier said the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted "terror attack." Both pilots were hospitalized after the plane landed, Tabuk Airport said.

Flydubai suspends flights to, from Israel

Flydubai said Wednesday that it has suspended flights to and from Israel pending an investigation into an incident aboard flight FZ 1073 earlier in the day.

The Dubai-based airline said in a statement that the decision was made in coordination with relevant authorities to allow them to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

It added that it remains in close coordination with government authorities, regulators, and airport stakeholders, and would review the suspension as more information becomes available.

The airline apologized to affected passengers and said it was working to provide support and alternative arrangements where possible.

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According to Flydubai, on-duty crew members traveling on the flight secured the aircraft, diverted it, and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Some crew members were injured, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said. All 174 passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on another Flydubai flight.

GCAA has launched an investigation into the incident, including a review of operational and security aspects.

Hours after the incident, Israel's flagship carrier El Al announced that it is preparing to resume flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai in November after more than eight months of suspension, with service operating at least twice daily.

Israel's Channel 13 reported that Israel is considering revoking Flydubai's license to operate flights to Israel after the incident, with a committee of government, aviation and security officials established to discuss the matter.

Flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai were halted at the end of February, following the outbreak of the war in Iran.