A passenger aboard the diverted Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv shared a selfie video from Saudi Arabia describing the terrifying moments when the aircraft plunged dramatically. He stated that there are children here who have lived through a near-death experience after the plane dropped from around 30,000 feet to 15,000 feet in roughly one minute. The rapid descent followed a violent struggle in the cockpit that triggered emergency signals, including a brief hijacking code, and left passengers uncertain whether the pilots remained in control. With little initial communication from the flight deck, fear spread quickly among the roughly 150 to 180 mostly Israeli travelers, including about 27 children. The plane eventually made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk after the situation was brought under control. All passengers remained unharmed once on the ground, though many stayed aboard for hours awaiting further instructions. Israeli forces had scrambled jets in response before confirming the aircraft was no longer under threat.

The video captures the raw aftermath as the passenger recounted the uncertainty and panic that gripped the cabin during the uncontrolled dive. Officials later determined the incident stemmed from a fight between the pilots rather than an external hijacking, allowing the flight to divert successfully. Families with young children described the ordeal as especially harrowing given the sudden loss of altitude and lack of updates from the crew. Security assessments continue to examine the full sequence of events that forced the emergency response. The survivor’s account underscores the human impact on the youngest passengers who endured the sharp drop and subsequent wait on the tarmac. Authorities are coordinating the return of everyone on board while reviewing cockpit procedures to prevent similar scares in the future.