A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after a violent incident reportedly erupted inside the cockpit, leaving both pilots injured and triggering fears that the aircraft had been hijacked.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport and was heading toward Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv when the incident unfolded.
The Boeing 737 reportedly transmitted an emergency signal before briefly switching to 7500, the internationally recognized transponder code associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. The alert prompted Israeli authorities to scramble fighter jets as officials feared the aircraft could be under attack.
According to Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers and other crew members reportedly intervened and restrained the alleged attacker while the remaining flight crew worked to regain control of the aircraft.
The plane subsequently diverted away from Israel and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
All passengers were reported safe.
Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ1073 experienced an incident during the flight and was diverted to Tabuk. The airline said all passengers were safe and accounted for, but it initially did not provide details about exactly what happened inside the aircraft.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said while indicating that additional information would be provided as confirmed details became available.
Plane Reportedly Dropped Thousands of Feet
The situation became even more alarming when flight-tracking data showed the aircraft making a dramatic descent while it was over the region.
According to publicly available FlightRadar24 data cited by multiple outlets, the aircraft descended from approximately 33,000 feet to around 17,000 feet in roughly a minute before changing course toward Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft ultimately landed safely at Tabuk, where Saudi authorities responded to the emergency.
Saudi authorities later confirmed that both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, while passengers were assisted at the airport. Authorities said an investigation was continuing.
Early reports and the aircraft’s 7500 transponder signal caused authorities to fear that the plane had been hijacked.
However, later information indicated that the emergency was apparently connected to a violent confrontation between the two pilots rather than an outside hijacker taking control of the aircraft.
Israeli officials have since alleged that the co-pilot may have deliberately attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it. Reuters reported that an Israeli official identified the alleged attacker as an Omani national. Those allegations remain part of an ongoing investigation and have not been presented as a final finding by flydubai.
Flydubai has described the event more cautiously as an “altercation” in the flight deck and said the underlying reasons and motives remain unknown while authorities investigate.
Despite the chaos in the cockpit, the aircraft was brought safely to the ground in Saudi Arabia.
The incident triggered a major security response because the flight was carrying passengers toward Israel, and Israeli authorities initially feared the aircraft could have been taken over.
The passengers are now being assisted while arrangements are made to transport them onward to Israel. Flydubai has said replacement aircraft were being arranged for the affected passengers and crew.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Flydubai are continuing to investigate exactly what happened inside the cockpit and what led to the confrontation.
As of Wednesday, all passengers had been reported safe, but questions remain about the alleged attack, the pilots’ injuries, the aircraft’s dramatic descent and why the hijacking transponder code was activated.
This remains a developing story and additional details are expected as investigators release more information.