Flydubai Flight FZ 1073 Plunges 18,000 Feet After Mid-Air Cockpit Attack
“I’m going to die,” 17-year-old Peleg Italie recalled exclaiming after Flydubai flight FZ 1073 nosedived 18,000 feet in ninety seconds following a violent struggle in the cockpit. The Wednesday morning service from Dubai International to Tel Aviv carried 174 passengers, predominantly Israelis, including tourists, businesspeople, and connecting travellers from Asia, when a co-pilot, claimed by Israel to be an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to “sabotage the aircraft’s system.” Passengers may have bemoaned a 20-minute delay at takeoff for the nonstop flight, which usually lands at Ben Gurion airport around 9am local time.
Cockpit Struggle Triggers Emergency Squawk Codes and Rapid Descent
The flight departed Dubai at 6:49am local time, according to the Financial Times, operating normally for the first two and a half hours at 34,000 feet over the Saudi desert. Flightradar24 data showed the Boeing 737 Max abruptly descending to 17,000 feet in under two minutes as aircraft speed surged from 400 to over 600 knots. The plane continued to climb and dive over the next 11 minutes. At 8:31am Israeli time, the crew issued a general emergency alert before switching four minutes later to squawk code 7500, signaling an unlawful interference or hijacking. CNN reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the pilot who fought back as Smit Machchhar from India, stating that he managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster.
Passengers and Crew Subdue the Attacker as the Injured Pilot Fights Back
As children wailed and adults braced for impact near the back of the cabin, quick-witted passenger Tzvika Manes and a crew member rushed the flight deck door, according to the Financial Times. Passenger Yaniv Hayoun told Israeli media he heard what sounded like a struggle coming from the cockpit. Passengers Assaf Rajuan, Dan Zoller, and Itzik Lieber joined the struggle, spending twenty to thirty minutes subduing the attacker and binding him with headphone cords. Passenger Evyatar HaLevy said he believed “death was definitely an option,” while one woman was recorded yelling, “My God, my God, my God.” Video verified by CNN showed the bloodied suspect tied on the floor with an oxygen mask while another pilot, who one passenger told the BBC was British, took control of the aircraft.
Emergency Landing Touches Down in Saudi Arabia Following Jordanian Border Circle
The aircraft made an erratic circle near the Jordanian border before turning back toward Saudi airspace. In one video, a man with a head wound pleaded in Hebrew for help, stating that all passengers were fine except for the pilot. At 8:40am Israeli time, the jet headed for Tabuk airport, touching down at 9:54am local time with heavy damage to its rudder. A Flydubai spokesperson said on-duty crew “successfully secured” the plane, and passengers later boarded a different flight to return to Israel. Netanyahu added that the suspect is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flight FZ 1073
What caused Flydubai flight FZ 1073 to suddenly lose altitude?
Flight tracking data recorded the Boeing 737 Max plunging 17,400 feet in under two minutes after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to sabotage the aircraft systems during the flight to Tel Aviv.
How was the cockpit attacker restrained during the flight?
Passengers Tzvika Manes, Assaf Rajuan, Dan Zoller, and Itzik Lieber, alongside crew members, rushed the cockpit and spent twenty to thirty minutes subduing the attacker before binding him with headphone cords.
Where did the distressed aircraft ultimately land?
The flight was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely at 9:54am local time after issuing a 7500 hijacking squawk code.
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