Cockpit altercation forces Flydubai flight to divert to Tabuk

An Emirates Flydubai plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after making an emergency landing on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, following the transmission of distress signals due to a “fight between pilots inside the cockpit.”

Flydubai reported that an altercation occurred in the cockpit aboard flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport.

A company spokesperson stated that the Flydubai crew on board managed to regain control of the situation, diverting the aircraft and landing safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, with all passengers and crew members unharmed.

He added, “At this initial stage, the motives and underlying reasons for this incident remain unknown and are subject to an official investigation. We urge everyone to refrain from premature speculation until authorities have gathered the facts.”

The UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation also called on everyone not to circulate unofficial information or anticipate the results of the investigation, emphasizing that “the public will be provided with the findings once they are released.”

According to Al Arabiya News, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk announced that all passengers from the Flydubai flight had been transferred to an alternative aircraft following the emergency landing.

The airport clarified in a subsequent statement that all passengers departed on the replacement aircraft at 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport reaffirmed its commitment to the regulations and directives issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, in accordance with relevant international treaties and agreements concerning the safety of air navigation, passengers, and cabin crew.

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, altered its course over Jordanian airspace toward Saudi Arabia and transmitted a general distress signal, followed by another emergency signal indicating a possible threat.

It added that the Boeing 737, which Israeli media reported was carrying approximately 150 Israeli passengers, transmitted another general distress signal before landing at Tabuk Airport.

In his first comment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with an Israeli passenger on board, who informed him that he, along with a crew member, had breached the cockpit and subdued the pilot who was attempting to sabotage the aircraft’s systems and appeared to be trying to crash the plane with everyone on board.

In a video statement, he explained that “Israeli authorities continued their communications with relevant parties to ensure the safety of the passengers and their return to Israel,” noting that “all passengers were out of danger” and that “the pilot who stabbed several people has been arrested.” He added that Israel is preparing for “potential further threats” in the wake of the incident.

For his part, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the incident was a “terrorist attempt,” adding that “initial available information indicates that the attacker’s goal was to crash the plane with all its passengers.”

He also claimed that “the operation was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers” who stormed the cockpit and overpowered the individual he described as a terrorist, before handing control of the aircraft back to an additional flight crew member on board.