The UAE prosecutor general ordered the investigation into flight FZ1073, the state news agency reported on Thursday. Authorities will examine what caused the confrontation and whether anyone planned or directed the incident.

UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction because the aircraft operates under the UAE flag and is registered in the country. The authorities said UAE law covers crimes committed aboard UAE-registered aircraft, even when they occur outside the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier praised the pilot and passengers after they helped prevent what Israeli officials described as a possible attack.

Passengers said the aircraft suddenly lost about 17,000 feet in roughly one minute while flying over Jordan, according to Flightradar24 data. Several passengers then rushed towards the cockpit as a fight broke out between the pilots.

Flydubai said all 174 passengers survived. Media reports said 166 of those passengers were Israeli. The airline said the cause of the confrontation remained unclear.

Israeli officials described the incident as a possible attempted terrorist attack. Netanyahu, however, said it was too early to determine who was behind the incident.

In a separate video message, Netanyahu alleged that one pilot stabbed the other and then tried to crash the aircraft. He praised the passengers and crew for intervening.

The injured pilot was identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar. Netanyahu said Machchhar fought off his co-pilot and helped prevent what he called a potential disaster.

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Netanyahu also said an Israeli passenger helped restrain the attacker. He identified the passenger as Yanik, a plumber, and praised his actions.

India’s embassy said Machchhar was receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the pilot on social media, saying his actions helped save lives.

Flight diverts to Saudi Arabia

The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after the incident. Another Flydubai aircraft later carried the passengers to Tel Aviv, where they arrived safely.

Footage released by Netanyahu’s office showed him meeting passengers after their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.

Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the aircraft appeared to be “pretty much out of control” during the incident. She told reporters that passengers eventually restrained the co-pilot and helped regain control of the situation.

Flydubai said another on-duty crew member travelling on the aircraft diverted and landed the plane safely. The airline also announced a temporary suspension of flights to Israel while authorities investigate.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terror attack but did not publicly identify the source of that assessment.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry director general also called it an attempted terrorist attack. He said the incident targeted Israelis, the UAE and the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreement that established diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he spoke with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the incident. The two sides agreed to cooperate against extremist groups that threaten regional security and stability.

US President Donald Trump also discussed the incident with Netanyahu. Trump said the co-pilot may have been a terrorist, while leaving the circumstances open to further investigation.

Passengers described the experience as frightening.

Almog Italie told AFP that the flight initially felt as though it had entered severe turbulence before fighting broke out near the cockpit. He said passengers near the front of the aircraft moved to help.

Another passenger, Chaim Nazarovitz, described the incident as terrifying and said he briefly feared that he would not survive.

Israeli media reported that the military scrambled fighter jets after concerns arose that the aircraft might have been hijacked.

A video recorded inside the aircraft showed a passenger with a head injury asking for help as the plane descended towards Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli officials said Saudi authorities nevertheless provided the passengers with a warm reception after the emergency landing.

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the wider conflict that began in late February. It also comes weeks before Israel’s scheduled elections at the end of October.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel had indications its enemies could attempt attacks before the election. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the prime minister of using fear to influence public opinion.