Israeli officials say flydubai pilots fight in cockpit triggered emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
A flydubai passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent cockpit confrontation that Israeli officials
A flydubai passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent cockpit confrontation that Israeli officials are treating as a suspected attempt to hijack and crash the aircraft. All passengers were accounted for after the plane came down safely at Tabuk airport, the airline said.
The flight, operating as FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, briefly sent emergency signals that set off alarms in Israel and prompted fighter jets to scramble. Tracking data showed the Boeing 737 MAX 8 dropped sharply before steadying again and diverting north-west into Saudi Arabia. The aircraft was carrying more than 100 Israeli passengers, according to Israeli officials.
Sharp descent, fast response
Israeli media and officials said the incident began with a physical fight between the two pilots in the cockpit. One Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that a “major disaster was narrowly avoided,” and security agencies including the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet were examining whether the episode was meant as an act of terror.
Reports differed on the exact sequence inside the cockpit, but several outlets said one pilot may have stabbed the other, triggering an emergency struggle for control of the aircraft. A passenger quoted by Israeli media said Israelis on board rushed toward the cockpit and helped restrain the pilot who was believed to be trying to force the plane down. The account could not be independently verified.
Saudi landing and investigation
Flydubai said the plane landed safely at Tabuk airport and that all passengers were safe and accounted for. Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft after landing, while hospital treatment was reported for the pilots in some local accounts.
Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters showed the jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds, while other reports described a steeper drop over a longer stretch. The flight had also transmitted an emergency code associated with unlawful interference, deepening fears that the aircraft had been deliberately put in danger.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations on the incident and was monitoring developments, his office said. The immediate priority now is the safe return of the passengers, while authorities in Israel and Saudi Arabia examine what happened in the cockpit and whether the flight was the target of a planned attack.
