New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- The United Arab Emirates has launched a criminal investigation into a midair altercation between two pilots aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel that forced the aircraft to divert and land in Saudi Arabia.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has formed a team of public prosecutors to investigate the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers and was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the incident unfolded.

According to reports, the co-pilot stabbed the pilot-in-command, Indian national Smit Machchhar, during the flight. The aircraft subsequently plunged around 16,000 feet, triggering a serio...