Flight to Israel makes emergency landing following apparent fight between pilots in the cockpit

LONDON (CBS, KYMA) - Frightening moments in the sky Wednesday as a flight from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing after an apparent fight between pilots in the cockpit.

Israeli officials said they've arrested one of the pilots and are now investigating the brawl as an attempted hijacking.

Terrifying moments on board a flight bound for Tel Aviv as a father told a child, "It's all okay."

Passengers on the FlyDubai jet said they heard screaming from the front and a fight involving a pilot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "One of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently tried to crash the plane."

Graphic video captured shows two men on the ground in pilots uniforms, both injured, with people around them saying, "They tried to murder the pilot and we took control."

"It was probably the most frightening experience we've ever had," said Ron Levi, who was on the plane with his wife and children. "People were shouting and starting to cry and starting to say 'I love you' to their children."

The Boeing 737 Max flew for 2.5 hours before signaling an emergency code, indicating an unlawful interference of the aircraft.

Flightradar data shows it then dropped 14,000 feet in 30 seconds.

"Turning sideways and going up and down in all different kinds of directions," Levi shared.

FlyDubai said its crew took over the plane and safely landed in Saudi Arabia an hour and a half later.

There was sheer relief when it hit the ground after the close call an Israeli security official told CBS News they're investigating as an attempted terror attack.

Saudi authorities arrested the pilot accused of stabbing his co-pilot. Investigators said they're also looking into whether the pilot was acting alone.