A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after a reported altercation in the cockpit, in a rare incident involving Israeli passengers landing in the kingdom.

Flight FZ1073 sent a distress call at around 8:44 am local time and landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk at about 9:45 am after a sharp descent near the Jordanian border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed the captain. Both pilots were injured and hospitalised, while passengers were reported safe.

Israeli officials are assessing whether the incident was an attempted terrorist attack, though FlyDubai has said the motive has not been established and the matter is under formal investigation.

The diversion marks an unusual mass arrival of Israeli nationals in Saudi Arabia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, and officials from both sides are monitoring the situation.

Aviation safety experts said cockpit security incidents of this nature are extremely rare, and a full investigation will examine both the individuals involved and airline procedures.