New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- A Flydubai flight carrying 174 people from the United Arab Emirates to Israel on Wednesday was forced into an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after its co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.

The Boeing 737, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073, lost nearly half its altitude in about a minute as passengers, most of them Israelis, feared for their lives. The wounded captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a passenger and crew member to enter and restrain the attacker.

The emergency occurred a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of possible attacks ahead of Israel's October 27 election. Netanyahu said Israel had ind...