GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."

About 170 people aboard a terrifying flight to Tel Aviv are safe tonight after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other in what Israeli officials say was an effort to crash the plane.

They say passengers and crew sprang into action, subduing the pilot and preventing the plane from going down.

AMNA NAWAZ: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said those on board helped to stop what could have been a -- quote - - "catastrophic midair disaster."

The attacker's been arrested in Saudi Arabia, and the airline has suspended all flights in and out of Israel while an investigation plays out.

Nick Schifrin begins our coverage.

(SCREAMING) NICK SCHIFRIN: At 33,000 feet, Flydubai 1073 started descending.

(SCREAMING) NICK SCHIFRIN: And the passengers started panicking.

In less than a minute, the plane plunged more than 15,000 feet after a violent cockpit knife fight between the two pilots.

Israeli officials told PBS "News Hour" the co-pilot, who's from Oman, planned a -- quote -- "9/11-style attack" and stabbed the captain with a knife.

That's when the captain, Indian Smit Machchhar, despite his injuries, managed to open the cockpit door.

And passengers say they entered and subdued the would-be attacker as he tried to destroy the plane's controls.

ASAF REJWAN, Passenger (through translator): We control the terrorist.

Whoever's hearing me, we need help.

All the passengers are OK, but not the pilot.

NICK SCHIFRIN: And among the passengers, a third pilot employed by Flydubai, who landed the plane safely.

ALMOG ITALIE, Passenger: And the crew member, along with the passengers, got - - gained control, took over.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Flydubai Flight 1073 had taken off from Dubai, heading to Tel Aviv just before 7:00 a.m.

local.

Passengers said the plane dropped and the fight began about two hours later.

The third pilot landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia... (CHEERING) NICK SCHIFRIN: ... where the passengers erupted in cheers for what an Israeli official called a miracle, everyone safe but shaken.

ITZHAK LIBER, Passenger (through translator): Surely, we will arrive home in a few hours and I'll have to change my clothes.

They're filled with blood.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Saving the plane took many passengers whose clothes were stained with blood, including Yaniv Hayun.

Hours later, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who labeled the passenger turned protector a big hero for being the first to the cockpit.

YANIV HAYUN, Passenger (through translator): There were no pilots on the chairs.

One was down on the floor and one on the instruments.

I caught the attacker.

I put him in a choke hold and pulled him out first.

I jumped back into the cockpit and pulled the yokes back.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister (through translator): I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage.

They saved many lives.

They prevented a heavy disaster.

(CHEERING) NICK SCHIFRIN: When the passengers arrived home, including a boy and his baby sister, relief, back in the arms of loved ones, after the Israeli air traffic controller was the first to celebrate their return.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Good evening, Sky Dubai 1073, Ben-Gurion tower.

Welcome to Israel.

Thank you for bringing our passengers safely back home.

NICK SCHIFRIN: But even after the passengers pulled the attacker out of the cockpit, there was no guarantee the plane would land safely.

The drop that the co-pilot caused was so dramatic, it sheared the rudder off the plane.

Some aviation safety experts said today they're surprised the descent didn't rip the whole plane apart.

It was saved by that passenger, Yaniv Hayun, who said he learned how to pull back on the controls, Amna, by watching the TV show "Air Disasters."

Absolutely extraordinary.

AMNA NAWAZ: Absolutely extraordinary.

But, Nick, here, for context, remind us, this direct flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv, it's a relatively recent route in the last few years, right?

NICK SCHIFRIN: Right.

Flydubai now flies about 10 round trip flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

The UAE has become a popular tourist destination for Israeli tourists, and that's all a product of the Abraham Accords signed during the first Trump administration that normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The Emiratis today say they're investigating, as is Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed.

And the Emiratis will certainly try to reassure some of the Israeli security concerns that we're already hearing.

The two countries' intelligence, political leaders have remained close.

And Israel helped the United Arab Emirates defend itself earlier this year from Iranian attacks.

Those Iranian attacks, of course, hit all Gulf allies of the U.S.

AMNA NAWAZ: Speaking of Iran, some news today from British authorities announcing information regarding an apparent plot against a British base where some American bombers have used before.

Tell us about that.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes, so this is the reported plot at RAF Fairford, from which American bombers have run sorties into Iran and where British police, you see it there, arrested five men on Sunday on suspicion of terrorism and explosives violations.

We have already heard Secretary of State Marco Rubio hint at some kind of connection between that plot uncovered by the British police and Iran, and we heard that echoed today on the BBC by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

ANDY BURNHAM, British Prime Minister: There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford.

But, of course, it remains an ongoing complex and serious police investigation.

NICK SCHIFRIN: We now know that police didn't actually find any explosives, despite arresting the five men on suspicion of explosives and terrorism.

So officials I talked to say it's unclear if it was some kind of test run or something different.

But, Amna, of course, it would be a big escalation if the U.S.

and the U.K.

accused Iran formally of trying to attack an air base in the United Kingdom that hosts U.S.

bombers.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, Nick Schifrin beginning our coverage tonight.

Nick, thank you.

NICK SCHIFRIN: Thank you.