A serious incident occurred on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a struggle in the cockpit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that one of the pilots stabbed the other and attempted to crash the plane. The incident has been described as a "most serious security incident." Passengers and crew managed to subdue the assailant, who has been arrested.
The flight, numbered FZ1073, issued a distress call at 8:31 a.m. local time and squawked code 7500, signaling an aircraft hijacking. The plane plummeted 17,400 feet in less than two minutes, causing fear among passengers. One passenger reported moments of terror, believing she was going to die. The incident occurred on September 30, 2026.
Israeli officials have commended the bravery of passengers on the flight. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an "attempted jihadist terror attack" that was thwarted by the heroism of Israeli passengers. Other officials, including Yair Golan and Itamar Ben-Gvir, also praised the passengers' actions. The motives behind the attempted hijacking are still unknown.
The co-pilot of the plane, reportedly an Omani national, was the attempted hijacker. Both the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia. The exact number of people on board the aircraft has not been disclosed, but Netanyahu stated that "almost all" passengers were Israelis.
Israel explored the possibility of sending a military or civilian plane to Saudi Arabia to bring home passengers, but Riyadh refused to allow Israeli planes to collect them. Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Most passengers are now boarding a replacement Flydubai plane to return home, while some families have refused to board, insisting on flying home with an Israeli air carrier.
The incident has raised concerns about airline security. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the perpetrator "must pay as if he murdered." Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz praised the resourcefulness and courage displayed by the passengers. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also commended the passengers' actions.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the attacker, the weapon used, or the motive behind the attempted hijacking. An investigation is likely to be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The incident highlights the importance of airline security measures and the bravery of passengers in emergency situations.
Key points
- The incident occurred on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- The pilot who attempted to hijack the plane stabbed the other pilot and tried to crash the plane.
- Passengers and crew subdued the assailant, who has been arrested.
