A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying mostly Israeli passengers diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a mid-air altercation on the flight deck. Israeli officials said a pilot stabbed his colleague in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew intervened.
The morning flight, designated as Flydubai flight FZ1073 and carrying 174 passengers, triggered emergency transponder signals over Jordanian airspace. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the Boeing 737 suddenly and rapidly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before broadcasting a general emergency code 7700. The transponder later switched to code 7500, indicating unlawful interference, before reverting to a general emergency signal and landing safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Cockpit Stabbing and Mid-Air Plunge
Passengers described a chaotic scene inside the cabin as the aircraft shook and dropped sharply toward the ground. Motti Cohen Or, a 70-year-old passenger from central Israel, told reporters that a woman shouted in alarm from the cabin after the violence erupted on the flight deck. Someone then broke into the cockpit and discovered that both the captain and first officer had sustained stab wounds, according to passenger accounts.
“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane.”
Miryam Shira Ohayon, passenger, via Agence France-Presse and DNA India
A wounded pilot managed to open the electronic release on the cockpit door while passengers and off-duty crew members subdued the attacker and brought the aircraft under control.
Security Assessments and Official Reactions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the intervention by travelers and crew members saved many lives and prevented a heavy disaster. Speaking in a video release from his office, Netanyahu described the event as a highly severe security incident
and confirmed that Saudi authorities had arrested the co-pilot for interrogation.
Israeli security establishments, including the military, Mossad, and Shin Bet, assessed the incident as an attempted terror attack rather than a mental health episode. An Israeli official identified the suspect as an Omani national. Israeli media reports and regional news outlets identified the captain who fought back as an Indian national.
Flydubai issued a statement confirming an altercation
on the flight deck and noted that the underlying reasons and motives remain subject to a formal investigation. The airline urged the public to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather facts. Airport operators in Saudi Arabia reported that both pilots were hospitalized with injuries following the landing.
Repatriation Efforts and Regional Tensions
Following the emergency landing, the Israel Air Force temporarily raised its alert level and scrambled fighter jets as a precaution while Israeli airspace was briefly closed. Prime Minister Netanyahu convened emergency consultations with defense officials to coordinate the return of the citizens onboard.
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