Netanyahu Alleges Pilot Attempted Cockpit Attack on Israel-Bound Flight

Flight Emergency and Landing in Saudi Arabia

Flight FZ 1073 departed Dubai and was roughly two and a half hours into its route toward Ben Gurion Airport when it transmitted an emergency squawk code 7700, indicating a general emergency. This was followed by code 7500, which signals a potential hijacking attempt. According to flight tracking data, the plane dropped approximately 5,200 meters in a two-minute span before altering its course away from Jordanian airspace and landing safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport confirmed that both pilots sustained wounds during the incident, while all other passengers remained safe. Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to reporters, stated that cabin control was maintained by crew members who stepped in to help land the aircraft after the attack. Saudi authorities detained the pilot accused of carrying out the assault for questioning, as confirmed by Netanyahu.

Official Statements and Security Assessments

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the attacker’s sole objective was to crash the plane and kill everyone on board, noting that the disaster was averted due to the heroism of several passengers. Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the current assessment classifies the event as a terror attack, though neither Oman nor the United Arab Emirates issued immediate public comments.

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on X that “terrorism is a devil with whom no agreement must be reached.” Meanwhile, opposition figure and former prime minister Yair Lapid expressed doubt regarding a direct link between the incident and earlier security warnings delivered by Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October elections. In response to the emergency, Israeli military chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir postponed a planned trip to the United States, where he was scheduled to meet with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and the head of U.S. Central Command.

Passenger Accounts and Media Reports

Passengers described chaotic scenes inside the cabin as the aircraft lost altitude. Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon told reporters via her mother’s phone at Tel Aviv airport that the co-pilot attempted to murder the pilot and execute a suicide crash. She credited the resourcefulness of travelers who neutralized the co-pilot, adding that a doctor on board administered medical treatment to the wounded pilot.

Yasmin Abu Kaiss, whose daughter was on the flight, told Reuters her daughter heard screaming and witnessed a man with a knife force a pilot to the floor amidst widespread blood. Published images in Israeli media showed a passenger wearing a blood-soaked shirt. Israeli media also reported that a subsequent Flydubai flight heading toward Tel Aviv turned around mid-air and returned to Dubai following the incident.

Aviation Security Context

Commercial flights between Dubai and Israel began after the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020. While Israel does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, a flight previously landed in Riyadh in 2025 due to a medical emergency. Israel maintains stringent airport security checks for Israel-bound flights, a practice stemming from a historical series of hijackings and attacks by Palestinian militants in the 1960s and 1970s. Aviation authorities from Flydubai confirmed that flight FZ 1073 experienced an onboard incident and stated that their teams are coordinating closely with relevant authorities.

Questions and Answers Regarding the Flight Incident

What caused the FlyDubai flight to divert?
The flight diverted to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after an onboard altercation where the pilot allegedly stabbed the co-pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft.

Who was identified as the attacker?
Israeli officials speaking on condition of anonymity stated that the attacker was an Omani national.

Were there any fatalities during the incident?
No passenger fatalities were reported. Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport confirmed that both pilots sustained wounds and were treated, while all other passengers remained safe.

How did the flight land safely?
Israeli officials reported that cabin crew members took control of the cockpit and assisted in landing the plane after passengers intervened to neutralize the co-pilot.