A commercial aircraft flying from Dubai to Israel was diverted on Wednesday after its pilot allegedly attacked the co-pilot and attempted to seize control of the plane with the aim of crashing it, according to an Israeli official.

The official told the Jerusalem Post that passengers had managed to overpower the pilot and restrain him, narrowly preventing what could have been “a major disaster.”

Flydubai Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, changed course over Jordanian airspace and headed toward Saudi Arabia. The aircraft first issued a general emergency alert before transmitting a second distress signal.

The sudden diversion triggered fears of a possible hijacking and led Israel to scramble fighter jets.

Flight-tracking data indicated that the plane plunged nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds shortly before the first emergency transmission, according to Flightradar24.

Passengers told Israel’s Channel 12 that they heard shouting from the front of the aircraft during an apparent confrontation between the pilots. They also described the jet making a steep descent before eventually landing in Saudi Arabia.

Israel’s security agencies, including the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad and Shin Bet, are reportedly increasingly convinced that the episode may have been an attempted terrorist attack.

A photograph said to have been taken aboard the aircraft appeared to show a passenger wearing a white shirt stained with blood.

The aircraft initially broadcast squawk code 7700, the standard signal for a general emergency. It then changed to code 7500, used to indicate unlawful interference, before later returning to 7700.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an emergency meeting as officials assessed the incident. Israeli airspace was temporarily closed before being reopened.

A regional official briefed on the situation said a physical struggle had erupted in the cockpit and appeared to involve the pilots, though the cause of the dispute remained unclear.

Israel’s i24NEWS reported that investigators were examining whether a stabbing had also taken place.

“We were either going to crash or be murdered. It was like a terrorist attack in mid-air,” one passenger told the outlet.

The channel said authorities were investigating claims that the pilot had tried to crash the Boeing 737 MAX, an attempt allegedly stopped by the co-pilot and passengers.

Another passenger told Channel 12: “We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit and we saw blood, and someone had stabbed the pilot with a pocketknife.”

She said Israeli passengers joined crew members in restraining the alleged attacker. “We prayed, ‘Shema Yisrael,’” she said.

“There were also moments when we thought we weren’t going to make it out alive.”

Another woman, who identified herself as Noam, told the network by phone: “Screams began on the plane… by passengers who realised what was happening.

‘We understand that one of the pilots was stabbed and seriously wounded, and they lost control of the plane. It started to dive quickly. It was very scary.’

One passenger, Itzhak Liber, recorded a video addressed to his family before uploading it onto Facebook.

‘We took control of the situation here on the flight,’ he said. 

‘There was an attacker with a knife who stabbed one of the pilots.

‘We just jumped on him and restrained him together with the pilot.’

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He said the attacker had been ‘neutralised’ and was ‘seriously injured’.

There was a second team of pilots in civilian clothes on the plane, according to the outlet, who allegedly prevented one of the pilots from taking over and crashing the jet.

A senior Israeli official told the channel that if the pilots had not been on the jet, the incident could have ended in another ‘September 11, 2001, attack or 1976 Entebbe hostage incident’. 

The plane sent a the ‘squawk code’ of 7700, a general international emergency signal, as it made a U-turn over the Jordan-Saudi Arabia border.

When it flew over Saudi Arabia, it briefly issued a code 7500, meaning a hijacking or unlawful interference. 

Data from publicly available sources shows that two hours and fifteen minutes into the flight, the jet suddenly took a sharp nosedive, dropping from 34,000 to around 17,000 feet in under a minute as it sped up from 411 knots to nearly 600.

The aircraft recovered slightly for several seconds, reaching 21,650 feet, before dropping sharply again, this time to under 14,000 feet.

Over the next hour, the plane failed to maintain a steady altitude, but it remained at around 15,000 feet, indicating it was being controlled by hand rather than autopilot, according to the Times of Israel.

Israeli authorities were unable to make contact with the jet during the incident. 

A second official confirmed that Israel had scrambled warplanes, fearing a hijacking of a plane carrying dozens of its citizens. 

Not long after the incident, the plane landed in Tabuk, a civilian and military base in the kingdom, with 180 passengers onboard. 

Netanyahu has warned in recent days of unspecified, escalated security threats.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident was still under investigation.

Following the emergency landing of the plane in Saudi Arabia, the airline is sending a second plane to Tabruk Airport to fly passengers the remainder of the way to Israel. 

Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir were also considering the possibility of dispatching Israeli military or civilian aircraft in order to bring the Israelis home, Walla learned. 

Israel has not experienced a hijacking in decades but maintains some of the strictest airport security in the world. 

Commercial flight have flown between Israel and the United Arab Emirates since the countries normalised ties in 2020.

A Flydubai spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘Flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on September 30 experienced an incident while en route. 

‘The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. 

‘The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.

‘Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available.’

This is a breaking news story. More to follow. 

The 2026 Dally M Awards began in style at The Cutaway in Sydney’s Barangaroo on Thursday evening.

The NRL’s most glamorous WAGs brought plenty of sparkle to the red carpet, with shimmering metallic gowns emerging as the standout fashion trend of the night.

Manly Sea Eagles star Kieran Foran made his arrival alongside Karina May, who immediately captured attention with her elegant look.

Karina chose a soft, golden-hued gown embellished with intricate beading arranged in striking art deco-inspired patterns.

A sheer nude-tulle skirt offered a glimpse of her toned legs, while a cream leather designer clutch completed the blonde beauty’s polished ensemble.

Millie Oliver also embraced the evening’s golden dress code as she attended with North Queensland Cowboys player Tom Dearden.

Millie opted for a high-fashion silhouette, wearing a layered gown featuring an off-the-shoulder satin bodice that appeared to float above the skirt.

The voluminous bodice was paired with a sleek lamé skirt, while nude heels added a subtle finishing touch.

Sports reporter Jake Duke attended with Eloise Sohier, who leaned into the metallic theme in a glittering dress covered in oversized sequins.

Lily Pickles was another guest to embrace the gold trend, turning heads in a plunging metallic gown with a daring neckline.

The blonde arrived with Dolphins player Herbie Farnworth, who looked sharp in a traditional black tuxedo.

Gold Coast Titans player Jaime Chapman swapped her usual football kit for a glamorous rose-gold gown covered in statement beading.

Miranda Cross opted for rose-gold glamour in a satin dress featuring a structured corset bodice while attending with Rabbitohs star Cameron Murray.

The figure-hugging design featured a revealing neckline, highlighting plenty of cleavage and leaving little room for a wardrobe mishap.

Kirsten Tapine stood out for the pack by wearing wearing icy blue for her date night with her Canberra Raiders player husband, Joseph Tapine. 

Dolphins player Jack Bostock had his gorgeous partner, Tahlia, in tow, with the blonde flashing some side boob as she went braless in soft brown gown. 

Braydon Trindall of the Cronulla Sharks made it a date night with Ria Maric, who was classy in a cream chiffon number with an exaggerated, pointed bodice. 

Dolphins player Jamayne Isaako had partner Abby Sutherland by his side, and the blonde was mellow in a bright yellow dress with sheer panels at the midriff and gathering at the waist. 

Ethan Sanders of the Canberra Raiders brought the glowing Sienna Miller, who showed off lots of bust in a muted pink gown with a baby blue jewel overlay. 

Isaah Yeo of the Penrith Panthers posed with partner Ashleigh Camenzuli, who was rocking wedding chic in a white lace number with matching fingerless gloves. 

Kristi Wilkinson arrived with Tom Trbojevic of the Manly Sea Eagles, and the blonde was embracing her inner Barbie in a pink satin gown with a halterneck and full skirt. 

Sydney Roosters player Isabelle Kelly pushed the envelope in a racy black frock with large cut-outs at the sides and a plunging neckline, ensuring lots of skin was on show. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow has the beautiful Berina Colakovic by his side, with Berina classic in a black gown with a feathered bodice and a thigh-high split.

Mimi Bowell glowed in a white gown that sat close to her figure and featuring a long train as she posed with her new boyfriend, Newcastle Knights player Palyn Ponga. 

Brydie Parker of the Sydney Roosters was chic in a black tux while his date stuck with the night’s gold trend in a fringed frock with an intricately beaded bodice. 

Jocelyn Kelleher of the Sydney Roosters dared to bare as she flaunted her bust in a semi-sheer gold gown with extensive beading and a plunging neckline. 

Millie Elliott of the Sydney Roosters looked bright in white, donning a lace corseted number with a satin skirt as she posed alongside her South Sydney Rabbitohs player husband Adam Elliott.

Today show weather presenter Taylor Haynes also chose white satin, her slinky gown featuring an artistic, asymmetrical one-shoulder design. 

Damien Cook of the St George Illawarra Dragons went along with Courtney Blaine, with Courtney choosing a sheer nude frock with a feather trim and embroidery throughout.

Sydney Roosters player Tommy Talau headed out for a date night with his fiancée, Jessica Sergis. 

The Sydney Roosters NRLW star commanded attention in a bridal-white satin gown with a lace corset bodice and a skirt with a long train. 

Robert Toia of the Sydney Roosters had his fiancée, Beau, by his side, with the brunette donning a black gown with cut-outs at the sides. 

The dress showed off some skin, as well as including a plunging neckline that flaunted her bust. 

Sienna Lofipo of the Gold Coast Titans (right) made a statement in a multi-coloured bikini top worn with a matching maxi skirt, along with a red hood. 

Gold Coast Titans player Laikha Clarke drew the eye in a black, satin gown with a daring, pointed neckline and thigh-high split as she posed with her partner, Fealofani Lima. 

 MORE TO COME 

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration may resume deporting migrants to countries other than their own while the justices consider whether the policy is lawful.

In a brief, unsigned 6-3 order, the court suspended a ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy that had blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s third-country deportation policy. The justices offered no explanation for the decision but agreed to hear full arguments in December.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche celebrated the ruling in a post on X, describing it as confirmation of the administration’s legal stance.

“Now for the second time, SCOTUS just granted our stay in conducting all third-country removals of illegal aliens,” Blanche wrote. “Again, this is entirely lawful and a critical tool for immigration enforcement. Unlike the lower court, SCOTUS waited to hear from both sides before making the decision.”

The policy allows U.S. officials to deport migrants to so-called “third countries”—nations that did not appear on their original removal orders. The administration has turned to the approach because many migrants’ home countries refuse to accept them. Under the policy, officials consider assurances to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that deportees will not face persecution or torture sufficient to permit the transfer.

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Solicitor General John Sauer told the justices that third-country removals are an important tool for deporting some of the most serious criminal offenders. He also said the lower court’s order forced DHS to cancel a flight carrying 70 deportees to three countries. Rubio’s State Department has reached agreements with as many as 31 nations, primarily in Africa and Latin America, with at least $410 million pledged through the end of June.

The legal challenge began earlier this year. In February, Murphy, a Biden-appointed judge, ruled that the policy violated the Fifth Amendment’s due process protections because migrants received neither adequate notice nor a meaningful opportunity to express fears of torture. The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld most of that ruling on Sept. 18. Tuesday’s action marked the administration’s second Supreme Court stay in the case.

The court’s three liberal justices—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson—dissented. Trina Realmuto, an attorney representing the migrants, said the decision leaves people vulnerable to immediate deportation to countries where they could face persecution before they have a chance to present their claims.

Also Tuesday, Burundi announced that it would accept deportees from the United States who have no ties to the East African nation. A spokesperson for the country’s president said the arrangement would apply only to people who are not facing prosecution and have no connections to terrorism.

Human rights groups estimate that more than 25,000 migrants have been deported to 29 countries under the policy, with most sent to Mexico. The Supreme Court is not expected to issue a final ruling until the summer of 2027.

Off-duty emergency workers rushed to help save the life of a devoted mother who died in a motorway crash, leaving behind her three young children.

Jo Law, 31, was involved in the fatal collision while travelling along the M4 near Windsor on September 9.

Her family later learned that several off-duty emergency service workers were caught in the traffic and immediately stopped to help the mother-of-three.

Despite their efforts to save her, Ms Law, who had been travelling alone, died at the scene.

Ms Law’s aunt, Samantha Neal, said: “Words cannot truly express how grateful we are to know that, in those moments, there were people there with her who stepped forward to help, care for her and do everything they possibly could.

“To every person who stopped, helped, offered their skills or simply stayed with Jo – from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

She said knowing Ms Law was “surrounded by people who cared and tried so hard to help her” had brought the family an “incredible amount of comfort” during an otherwise heartbreaking time.

Ms Neal described the stay-at-home mother as “devoted” to her children: Harvie, 12, Isla, nine, and Parker, four.

Paying tribute to her niece, she said: “Everything she did was about them and teaching them about the ways of the world.

“They used to go out on motorbikes and do dirt biking. They spent a lot of time outdoors.

“She was a good mother and quite laid-back. She loved spending time with her very large family.

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“She was quite silly as a niece, too. She loved messing around and making TikToks with her children, doing silly dances.”

Ms Neal said the family had been devastated by Ms Law’s death, although the tragedy had brought relatives even closer together.

She explained: “We’re a big family and we live a road apart; I think this has just brought everyone closer. We went on a family holiday to Ibiza in August, so it was nice to have had that before this happened.”

Following the crash, the family launched a GoFundMe appeal with an initial target of £7,000. The fundraiser has since surpassed that goal, with more than £17,000 raised.

The money will help pay for Ms Law’s funeral, while any remaining funds will be put aside for her children, who are now living with their father full-time.

Her funeral is due to take place in mid-October.

Ms Neal said: “Jo was a loving mum to three beautiful children. They were her world, and they now have to face life without their mum far too soon.

‘As a family, we are trying to come to terms with the unimaginable pain of losing Jo while also facing the financial costs that come with such a sudden and heartbreaking loss.

‘We would like to raise funds to help towards Jo’s funeral and give her children some financial support as they begin to navigate the difficult road ahead without their mum.

‘Any contribution, no matter how big or small, would mean more to Jo’s family and children than words can express.’

She added that Ms Law was ‘loved by so many and will never be forgotten’ and her  children will ‘always know just how deeply their mum was loved and how many people cared about her’.

Ms Law was born in Gravesend, Kent, and lived in Swanley her whole life.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to shield coastal homes from a potential super El Niño is facing criticism from experts who warn it could destroy some of the state’s most treasured beaches.

As California’s shoreline braces for monster waves linked to El Niño, residents and officials are turning to boulders, seawalls and other barriers to defend homes from the ocean.

A statement issued by the governor’s office last week said the state would be permitted to “move faster to protect communities, stage critical resources, and strengthen readiness before severe weather intensifies.”

Since then, sections of the coast have been reinforced with artificial defenses made from rocks, concrete, wood and seawalls designed to hold back the water.

Experts, however, caution that these measures may offer only temporary relief. In the longer term, they could damage sandy beaches and create effects that remain along the coast well beyond the current storm season.

Jonathan Warrick of the US Geological Survey told the LA Times: “It’s kind of a double-edged sword, where it may have some short-term benefits, but long-term, there’s a lot of work showing that some of those protection measures can have negative effects – both at the site, and immediately adjacent to the site.”

The conflict between protecting communities from rising seas today and preventing damage to the coastline tomorrow is becoming an increasingly urgent concern.

In Dana Point, south of the upscale surf town of Laguna Beach, coastal homeowners have moved quickly to install defenses such as a boulder barrier, according to a statement from the city.

KTLA-TV recently aired footage showing workers pouring concrete along the shoreline to protect beach homes.

Homes are not the only structures at risk. A coastal railroad line that transports $1 billion in freight each year has also long faced the threat of falling into the ocean.

A riprap project installed last year was intended to slow soil erosion and absorb the force of crashing waves. But this month, the project was seen losing sediment near the train tracks, which fell into the ocean.

The emergency defenses may preserve buildings and infrastructure in the short term, but they are also helping drive the loss of California’s sandy shoreline, leaving beaches trapped between a rising ocean and rigid seawalls.

Chad Nelsen, chief executive of the coastal and ocean conservation organization Surfrider Foundation, warned that seawalls and other fixed barriers leave beaches with no room for sand to shift.

“Sea walls and revetments and rock riprap can temporarily protect homes and public infrastructure like the train tracks, but they ultimately destroy the beach,” Nelsen told the LA Times.

“We’re making a trade-off between protecting the property and infrastructure for the public’s beach.”

The US Geological Survey said in 2017 that California could lose as much as two-thirds of its beaches by the end of this century if sea levels rise by three to six feet.

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The coastal city of Pacifica, near San Francisco, already lost a beach that existed in the 1970s to a mostly armored coastline.

A partial solution for some areas is to import sand to strengthen eroding beaches, but that can be very expensive.

Nelsen told the LA Times: ‘One of the questions is, if we’re going to spend state and federal money to replenish the beaches, is that fair that the homeowners get free public protection in front of their homes at all of our costs?

‘At some point, it’ll be probably cheaper to try to buy out the homes than to put sand on the beach forever, because these beach nourishment projects, beach replenishment projects, they’re tens of millions of dollars.’

Issues of coastal erosion, bluff movement, landslides, hight tides, storms and ocean swells have collectively disrupted a trainline from San Diego to Orange County for up to a full year in the past five years, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority.

The agency told the LA Times it has been working on solutions to protect the rail line for the next three decades, while a separate state-led effort looks at solutions beyond that time.

Some concepts include sand placement and, depending on location, more heavily engineered interventions such as seawalls or rock.

‘More than $300 million in state, federal and local funding has been secured for those priority rail protection efforts. Sand placement is also a significant component of this effort,’ the authority said.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley acknowledged that rocks aren’t the perfect solution, but they are often the only option for emergencies.

‘We know the rocks that they have to keep adding out there are exacerbating the sand erosion, but we have to do that to protect the rails,’ she told the LA Times.

Recent hits to beaches were a result of strong swells from hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Warrick said, as well as abnormally high tides.

Another factors is the roughly one-foot increase in sea levels along the California coast over the last 125 years caused by human-made global warming.

The Daily Mail contacted Gavin Newsom’s office for comment.