Flight data show the flydubai aircraft abruptly dropped from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet during a cockpit emergency over the region.

Israeli officials say one pilot allegedly stabbed another and attempted to crash or sabotage the aircraft before passengers and other crew intervened.

Investigators are now trying to establish exactly what happened in the cockpit.

Meidan Barr, an El Al captain and former head of the Israeli Pilots Association, discusses the incident with DW.