On Wednesday a Flydubai flight bound for Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent confrontation in the cockpit. The Boeing 737, Flight FZ 1073, had departed Dubai about two and a half hours earlier with roughly 180 people on board, including an estimated 150 Israeli passengers.
Cockpit violence and emergency signals
According to flight‑tracking data reviewed by Reuters and the Associated Press, the aircraft abruptly lost altitude, dropping from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly one minute. Flightradar24 data showed a plunge of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the crew transmitted a 7700 emergency code, followed shortly by a 7500 code indicating possible unlawful interference.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a pilot stabbed another and apparently tried to crash the plane. Three Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that investigators believe the co‑pilot stabbed the captain in what they are examining as a possible attempted terror attack.
Passengers and crew intervene
Netanyahu reported that a passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit as the plane began to dive, confronting the attacker. Additional crew members then assumed control of the aircraft, allowing it to be safely diverted to Saudi airspace. The jet briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning back toward Saudi Arabia and landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.
Both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital after the landing. Cabin crew also entered the cockpit and helped stabilize the situation. Passengers described hearing shouting and seeing a man with a knife and significant blood near the cockpit.
Official responses
Flydubai confirmed the incident, describing it as an “incident” and stating that its teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Saudi authorities arrested one of the pilots, identified as an Omani national, and are cooperating with Israeli officials.
Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew who intervened, saying, “I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.” The Israeli government has launched a security consultation in response to the event.
Context and background
The incident occurred days before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, a period of heightened security concerns. Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, but it lifted restrictions on Israeli aircraft using its airspace in 2022 and has previously coordinated emergency landings for flights carrying Israeli passengers.
The United Arab Emirates and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020, and Flydubai operates regular service between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The investigation into the cockpit violence remains ongoing.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
