A Flydubai flight carrying passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, after a violent incident involving the pilots triggered emergency signals and briefly raised fears of a possible hijacking.
Flight FZ1073, which departed Dubai International Airport at about 7:05 a.m. local time, was forced to land at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia after an incident occurred in the cockpit while the aircraft was en route to Israel.
Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk and that all passengers were safe and accounted for, but the airline did not disclose details of the incident.
It said it was working with relevant authorities and would provide further information as it became available.
Israeli officials, however, said a physical altercation broke out between the captain and first officer.
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Reuters reported that Israeli officials suspected the incident could have been an attempted terror attack, with the co-pilot allegedly stabbing the captain before cabin crew and passengers intervened.
Both pilots reportedly sustained injuries and were taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers described chaotic scenes aboard the Boeing 737 MAX, with one passenger telling Israeli media that screams were heard from the cockpit. Another account said passengers helped restrain one of the pilots after the incident.
The aircraft’s flight-tracking data showed a rapid descent from about 34,000 feet before emergency signals were transmitted.
The aircraft initially broadcast the international 7700 general emergency code, before briefly switching to 7500, the transponder code associated with hijacking or unlawful interference.
The aircraft subsequently maintained a lower altitude before landing safely in Tabuk.
The emergency signals prompted Israeli authorities to consider the possibility of a hijacking and reportedly led to Israeli fighter jets being scrambled. Israeli officials later said the situation was under control.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had held security consultations and was monitoring developments.
“The incident is under control,” his office said, adding that arrangements were being made to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel.
Reuters reported that the Israeli military recommended deploying an aircraft to repatriate the passengers from Saudi Arabia.
The incident is still under investigation, and authorities have not publicly established the motive for the cockpit violence. Initial reports about a stabbing and attempted hijacking have also not been fully detailed by Flydubai.
The flight was carrying approximately 150 Israeli passengers, according to reports.
Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport accommodated the emergency landing despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The investigation is expected to determine what triggered the confrontation between the pilots, how the cockpit was brought under control and whether the incident should be classified as a security or terrorism-related event.