A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying mostly Israeli passengers diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft. Quick-acting passengers and crew members subdued the attacker, allowing off-duty pilots to land the jet safely.
Midflight Stabbing and Steep Descent Over Jordan
The violent altercation aboard Flydubai flight FZ 1073 erupted as the Boeing 737 Max 8 approached Israeli airspace after departing from Dubai. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the pilots stabbed the other in an apparent effort to bring the aircraft down with everyone on board.
Flight-tracking data captured the terrifying moments that followed inside the cabin. Records from Flightradar24 showed the twin-engine jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet within 30 seconds, dropping from roughly 34,000 feet down to less than 17,000 feet. Passengers described a chaotic scene as the plane shook and dipped violently toward the ground.
“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane.”
Miryam Shira Ohayon, passenger, via Al Jazeera
Passenger Heroism Inside the Cockpit
Disaster was averted when travelers and off-duty personnel rushed the flight deck. Passengers heard shouts from the front of the aircraft and realized the severity of the threat as the plane entered what witnesses described as a tailspin.
According to accounts provided to Devdiscourse, travelers and a crew member breached the cockpit door and discovered the co-pilot trying to sabotage the aircraft’s controls. An Israeli official told CBS News that Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the group for thwarting what he termed an attempted jihadist terror attack.
“They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster.”
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, via Devdiscourse
After overpowering the attacker, passengers and an onboard doctor administered first aid to the wounded crew members. An off-duty pilot who was traveling as a passenger then stepped forward to assist the remaining flight crew in taking control of the aircraft.
Emergency Diversion to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia
With the flight deck secured, the crew transmitted emergency signals. The aircraft squawked a general emergency code before briefly signaling unlawful interference, according to flight tracking data cited by NBC News.
The jet diverted safely to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, commonly known as Tabuk Airport, in Saudi Arabia. The civilian facility operates adjacent to a Saudi military base, and heavy security forces quickly surrounded the aircraft upon arrival.
Tabuk airport confirmed that both the captain and the first officer sustained injuries and were hospitalized. Saudi authorities placed the suspected attacker under arrest and launched an interrogation.
Political Fallout and Security Investigations
As authorities sift through the incident, officials are scrutinizing the broader implications for regional security. An Israeli security official told CBS News that investigators are examining whether the attacker acted alone or if the episode bore similarities to coordinated terror tactics. Israeli officials also scrambled warplanes during the unfolding crisis out of concern over a potential hijacking.
Back in Israel, the event triggered political friction. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the government of exploiting the scare for political gain, stating that the incident was absent from a security briefing he received the previous evening.
Flydubai stated that the motives remain unknown pending a formal inquiry, while the Israel Airports Authority established a family information center at Ben Gurion Airport to manage the safe return of the shaken passengers.