An Israel-bound Flydubai flight carrying roughly 180 people, including a large number of Israeli passengers, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent confrontation in the cockpit that Israeli officials are investigating as a possible attempted terror attack.
Israeli media reported that about 150 Israelis were aboard the aircraft, according to Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed another and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew intervened, according to the Associated Press.
Flydubai Flight FZ 1073 was traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv when the Boeing 737 abruptly lost altitude and transmitted emergency signals.
The aircraft ultimately landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai said all passengers were safe and accounted for and that the airline was working with relevant authorities.
Saudi authorities arrested one of the pilots, Netanyahu said, per AP. Both the captain and first officer were injured and taken to a hospital following the landing, according to a statement from the Tabuk airport carried by Saudi state media.
Flight Plunges Thousands Of Feet
About two and a half hours after leaving Dubai, the aircraft descended from roughly 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in about a minute, according to flight-tracking data cited by AP.
Data from Flightradar24 reviewed by Reuters showed the aircraft plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before its first emergency signal was transmitted.
The aircraft first transmitted a 7700 code, the internationally recognized signal for a general emergency, followed by a 7500 code indicating possible unlawful interference, according to Flightradar24.
The jet briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning back toward Saudi Arabia and ultimately landing in Tabuk.
The rapid altitude changes and emergency signals raised immediate concerns about a possible hijacking.
Israel scrambled military aircraft in response to the potential threat, an Israeli official told AP.
Israeli Officials Investigate Possible Attack
Three Israeli officials told Reuters that investigators believe the co-pilot stabbed the captain in what they are examining as a possible attempted terror attack.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation remains active.
Earlier accounts had described the incident more generally as a physical altercation between the pilots.
Netanyahu later said the attacker apparently attempted to crash the aircraft.
As the plane began to dive, a passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit, Netanyahu said, citing a passenger with whom he had spoken.
Other crew members then took over flying the aircraft, according to AP.
Reuters separately reported that cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft.
“I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said. “They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.”
Passengers Describe Chaos On Board
Passengers described hearing shouting and seeing signs of a violent struggle near the front of the aircraft.
Yasmin Abukasis, whose daughter was aboard the flight, said her daughter heard someone screaming for help before the aircraft appeared to lose control, according to AP.
Abukasis said her daughter reported seeing a man with a knife and significant blood near the cockpit.
Video footage reviewed by AP showed two injured men on the floor of the aircraft, with people apparently providing medical treatment while others guarded the cockpit. One circulating passenger clip is below:
Flydubai Flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning. i24 News reported that one of the pilots, an Omani national, attempted to crash the plane. After the Omani pilot was apprehended, two additional pilots on… pic.twitter.com/wL2AA9u0MF
— AL-MONITOR (@AlMonitor) September 30, 2026
Both pilots were hospitalized after the landing.
Flydubai Confirms ‘Incident’
Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ 1073 experienced an “incident” while traveling to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said, according to AP.
The airline did not initially provide details about what happened inside the cockpit.
Netanyahu’s office said the situation was under control and efforts were underway to return the Israeli passengers home.
The emergency landing also prompted national security consultations in Israel, according to Reuters.
Saudi Landing Comes Amid Heightened Security
The incident occurred days before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and amid heightened Israeli security concerns.
Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel but lifted restrictions on Israeli aircraft using its airspace in 2022.
The kingdom has since coordinated other emergency landings involving Israeli passengers, including a 2023 landing involving an aircraft experiencing an electrical malfunction, according to AP.
The United Arab Emirates and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020, and Flydubai operates regular service between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
The investigation into Wednesday’s cockpit violence remained ongoing.
Provided by Dallas Express
