# Blood at 35,000 feet: possible hijacking attempt on flight to Israel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484 "2026-09-30T11:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/21 "2026-09-30T14:38:56Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > How very fortunate that a passenger\* knew how to fly that plane, and was able to jump into a cockpit seat and pull the plane out of its plunge – without overstressing it (besides the rudder damage) – and then land it. Even more fortunate were passengers of United Airlines Flight #232 in 1989. An engine on that plane disintegrated explosively, blowing out all the hydraulics. A UA pilot flying as a passenger had studied a previous crash with similar hydraulic failure and loss of controls and had even practiced similar situations in a flight simulator.. He assisted in getting the plane to the Sioux City airport where it crash-landed, but a a majority of the passengers survived. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/22 "2026-09-30T14:57:58Z")
The passengers are on board another FlyDubai flight and on their way back to Israel. There was some discussion of whether Israel would need to send a plane or even a military flight to get them but my guess is that Dubai is eager to do whatever they can to fix things ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/23 "2026-09-30T15:00:43Z")
They’re saying that Israel offered but the Saudis refused. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/24 "2026-09-30T15:27:53Z")
I hope Israel issues a genuinely warm thank you to the Saudis. Perhaps this incident can open a dialog between the two countries. Why send two planes? One plane with passengers got hijacked. > [@](#): > > [As we reported earlier,](https://www.reuters.com/live/live-flydubai-flight-israel-diverted-after-brawl-between-pilots-2026-09-30/?arena_mid=kSE7dPJC1UaNna70XKpf&arena_post_slug=flydubai-says-underlying-reasons-and-motives-unknown) flydubai said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia to relieve the passengers and crew. > > We have now heard from Israel Airports Authority, who said the flydubai rescue flight is set to take off from Saudi Arabia shortly, en route to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. > > The estimated flight time is expected to be around 45 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/25 "2026-09-30T15:47:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Why send two planes? One plane with passengers got hijacked. Plausible guesses: - In case one breaks down. - To provide more space to the understandably upset passengers. A half-full airplane is much more comfortable / pleasant than a full airplane. - Perhaps they have brought a bunch of airline staff to do grief- / PTSD-related counseling. Major US airlines have those staffs and do similar for particularly harrowing experiences. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/26 "2026-09-30T15:56:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hope Israel issues a genuinely warm thank you to the Saudis. > > Perhaps this incident can open a dialog between the two countries. Yes, by all reports the Saudis have been gracious hosts. Not at all surprising though. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/27 "2026-09-30T16:03:47Z")
Passangers have landed safe and sound in Tel Aviv. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/28 "2026-09-30T16:07:11Z")
My God, everyone could easily have been killed! Sounds like they came very close to it. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/29 "2026-09-30T16:11:45Z")
Now that we’re getting reliable reports that it was a pilot stabbing another pilot, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this was an example of poor Crew Resource Management. Too soon? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/30 "2026-09-30T16:38:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Plausible guesses: > > - In case one breaks down. > - To provide more space to the understandably upset passengers. A half-full airplane is much more comfortable / pleasant than a full airplane. > - Perhaps they have brought a bunch of airline staff to do grief- / PTSD-related counseling. Major US airlines have those staffs and do similar for particularly harrowing experiences. My guess was that the simply didn’t have another plane with enough seats available on short notice, but they were able to find two smaller planes, i.e. they didn’t have another 737-8 available, so they sent two 737-700s or something like that. Although I don’t have any knowledge about FlyDubai’s fleet, so that is just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/31 "2026-09-30T16:49:18Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Crew Resource Management. I know you’re making a joke, but as they avoided a crash, it sounds like CRM worked in case. The crew corrected a major problem caused by a human. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/32 "2026-09-30T16:55:37Z")
Could such a situation occur on an El Al flight? Tons of security. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/33 "2026-09-30T16:57:52Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I know you’re making a joke, but as they avoided a crash, it sounds like CRM worked in case. The crew corrected a major problem caused by a human. It’s never funny to explain a joke, but I find this darkly amusing because the whole point of CRM is to avoid conflict between crew members and make sure opinions are heard. A first officer pulling a knife on the captain would be… on the far end of the spectrum for desired conflict resolution techniques. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/34 "2026-09-30T16:58:59Z")
I don’t have an English link, but they interviewed a dentist who was one of the four people who tackled the terrorist pilot and who then provided first aid that may have saved the life of the pilot who was stabbed. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/35 "2026-09-30T17:08:17Z")
There is confirmation it was terrorism? I expect the guy is still quite busy being interrogated. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/36 "2026-09-30T17:11:03Z")
You mean, as compared to a really nasty way to commit suicide? Or a bizarre psychotic incident? I doubt it. But, “stabbed the guy next to you and tried to shove him out of the cabin” doesn’t sound like it could be an innocent error. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/37 "2026-09-30T17:13:39Z")
This was an inside job. Much of what people refer to when they say “tons of security” is defenses aimed at the external threat. Does El Al have good internal security too? Good bet. But that’s a very different nature of threat and of precaution. Separately … The answer to any open-ended question like “Could [whatever] happen?” is nearly always “Yes, it could.” when the [whatever] is about human systems and human actors. Less so when the question is about physics or chemistry or similar. Said another way, there is no such thing as “completely safe”, nor “completely secure”. All anyone can ever do is drive the odds lower than they’d otherwise be. El Al may indeed be able to get the odds down to (made up example number) one in ten million. But that’s not zero. Neither is 1 in 10 billion. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/38 "2026-09-30T17:17:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > didn’t have fish for dinner. ? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/39 "2026-09-30T17:18:53Z")
It’s a reference to the movie Airplane, where passangers and crew (including both of the the pilots) who ate the fish got horribly sick and needed an emergency landing. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484/40 "2026-09-30T17:24:31Z")
Oh … have not seen that movie in years and years. It does sound vaguely familiar though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-at-35-000-feet-possible-hijacking-attempt-on-flight-to-israel/1033484.md?page=3)