Captain of Israel-bound plane stabbed by co-pilot in cockpit, causing plane to plunge 5km

A plane headed for Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a suspected attempt to hijack the flight was averted.

According to the BBC, the Flydubai flight was two hours into a trip from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the incident occurred.

Accounts from passengers on the flight indicated that a pilot was stabbed in the cockpit while an emergency signal and a hijacking warning were set off.

The plane dropped 5.2km in just two minutes during the attack, though all passengers are safe and accounted for, according to the airline.

While the extent of the injuries are yet to be reported, the captain of the aircraft and its first officer have been taken to hospital.

Citing Israeli sources, CNN reported the attack is suspected to be a hijacking attempt though it is unclear if the intention was to crash the plane or take the passengers as hostages.

Witnesses on board the plane described the incidend as "like a terrorist attack in mid-air".

"We were either going to crash or be murdered," said a passenger, according to The New York Post.

Images taken by passengers showed several figures covered in blood; one man with blood running down his face posted a first-person video begging for help and reporting that they'd "subdued the terrorists".