A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an incident occurred in the cockpit. Flight FZ 1073 landed at Tabuk Airport at about 9:45 am local time. The aircraft encountered an incident during the journey, but the airline confirmed that the plane landed safely and all passengers remained safe and accounted for.
Airport officials reported that the captain and copilot had injuries and received hospital treatment. Israeli media claimed that the pilots' altercation triggered a distress signal, and two other pilots travelling as passengers took control of the aircraft and completed the emergency landing. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions across the Middle East following a regional conflict that began in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Families gathered at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, waiting for news about their relatives. Yasmin Abukasis said her daughter, Miryam Shira Ohayon, called her after the plane landed in Saudi Arabia. Abukasis claimed that her daughter said one pilot attacked the other with a knife and that passengers heard shouting from the cockpit. Another passenger reportedly entered the cockpit and saw blood, then called for help.
Passengers intervened and restrained one of the pilots, according to Abukasis. She also said the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly during the incident, leaving passengers fearing that the plane could crash. The sudden descent showed a sharp drop in the aircraft's altitude from almost 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet within about one minute.
Israeli media, citing unnamed sources, reported that passengers helped separate the pilots during the confrontation. Some reports showed a passenger wearing a bloodstained shirt. Channel 12 said investigators were examining whether one pilot attempted to crash the aircraft and whether the other pilot intervened to prevent a crash. The Israeli military scrambled fighter jets after authorities suspected a possible hijacking, but authorities later dismissed that possibility.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had received a briefing and was monitoring the situation. The office said authorities were taking steps to ensure the safe return of the Israeli passengers. Meir Zohar, whose son Ido travelled on the flight, said his son sent him a message confirming that he was safe.
Heavy security surrounded Tabuk Airport after the aircraft landed, with several police vehicles and an ambulance near the terminal. Authorities kept the terminal open despite the heightened security presence. The incident came weeks before Israel's elections, scheduled for the end of October, and a day after Netanyahu warned that Israel's enemies could attempt an attack ahead of the election.
Key points
- The incident forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- Two pilots were injured in the alleged fight.
- The aircraft experienced a sharp drop in altitude during the incident.
