A Flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia early on Wednesday after a violent altercation broke out between the co-pilots. The incident occurred just over two hours into the flight, with tracking data showing the plane dropping rapidly by over 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. The plane, which was carrying around 150 people, mostly Israeli citizens, had taken off from Dubai International Airport at 03:05 UTC.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, the plane was cruising at a recorded altitude of 34,000 feet just before 05:21 UTC. However, in less than two minutes, it had descended more than 17,000 feet. An emergency signal was issued from the plane about 10 minutes later, and the available data shows significant ongoing fluctuations in altitude throughout the rest of the flight to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
An unnamed passenger on board the flight told the Jerusalem Post that one pilot was stabbed by another, but passengers near the front of the plane helped force the attacker from the cockpit. The witness said two other pilots were on board, at the back of the plane, and that they were asked to run and take control of the plane. The passenger also claimed that the injured pilot was given life-saving care by a dentist on the flight.
The emergency signal issued by the plane was initially reported as a general emergency, but was later changed to a code used to report a hijacking, although this was later turned back to the general emergency signal. The incident is believed to have been caused by an altercation between the pilot and co-pilot, according to local media reports citing Israeli defence officials.
The flight, which was due to land at Ben-Gurion Airport, instead landed at Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation was under control and that efforts were underway to return the Israeli passengers home from Saudi Arabia. Flydubai confirmed that its flight had experienced an incident, but said all passengers were safe and accounted for.
In a statement, Flydubai said its teams were working closely with the relevant authorities to resolve the situation. The airline confirmed that the aircraft had landed safely in Tabuk Airport and that the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority. Further updates were promised as additional confirmed details became available.
The incident has raised concerns about air safety, but Flydubai's swift response and the bravery of passengers on board have been widely praised. The airline's statement and the Israeli Prime Minister's assurance that the situation is under control have helped to alleviate fears. The passengers were eventually able to continue their journey home after being assisted by the relevant authorities.
Key points
- The plane dropped over 17,000 feet in less than two minutes.
- A passenger claimed that one pilot was stabbed by another.
- The flight landed safely in Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia.
