The former owners of Australia’s most expensive house were aboard the flydubai flight at the centre of a suspected mid-air hijacking attempt.

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv became a scene of terror after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other mid-flight, sending the Boeing 737 Max 8 into a dramatic 14,000-foot dive over Saudi Arabia in just 30 seconds.

The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted an emergency hijack signal before diverting to Tabuk, where the alleged attacker — reportedly an Omani national — was arrested.

Both pilots have been hospitalised, with the injured captain identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar.

Pictures of the pilot on the floor of the aircraft have emerged.

Bloodied passengers pictured aboard flydubai jet after the alleged cockpit attack Credit: East2West

Passengers described harrowing scenes of chaos as the plane plummeted, with oxygen masks failing to deploy and overhead compartments slamming shut.

Blood-covered passenger Yaniv Hayoun has been hailed a “hero” after entering the cockpit and physically restraining the alleged attacker, crediting his knowledge to watching Air Crash Investigations.

Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, have branded the incident an “attempted jihadist terror attack”.

A fellow pilot described the alleged attacker as a religious extremist who had joined flydubai just eight months earlier.

US President Donald Trump said he discussed the incident with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised both the injured captain and passengers for their bravery in averting disaster.

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Israel-bound flight forced to re-route after ‘violent incident’ midair, pilot stabbed, Aussies onboard