Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Passengers Subdue Co-Pilot After Flydubai Flight Plunges Toward Saudi Arabia
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a fight began in the cockpit.
Reports said one pilot stabbed the other and may have tried to crash the plane.
The aircraft then dropped very quickly, frightening the passengers.
Some passengers and other pilots went into the cockpit to help.
They restrained the pilot who was accused of attacking the other pilot.
The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Everyone on board was reported safe and accounted for.
Both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital.
The airline said the reason for the fight was still unknown, so some details remained disputed.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli officials and passengers said one pilot stabbed the other and attempted to crash or sabotage the aircraft.
Passengers and other pilots reportedly entered the cockpit, restrained the alleged attacker, and landed the Boeing 737 MAX safely.
Flight-tracking data showed the plane dropping from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in about one minute.
All passengers were reported safe, while both pilots were injured and Saudi authorities arrested and questioned the alleged attacker.
- Who
- The two pilots, passengers, additional pilots traveling aboard the aircraft, Saudi authorities, Flydubai, and Israeli officials were involved.
- What
- A cockpit altercation allegedly led one pilot to attack the other and attempt to crash or sabotage the flight before passengers intervened.
- When
- Wednesday, September 30, during a morning flight.
- Where
- The aircraft was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, reportedly over Jordan, and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The cause of the pilots’ altercation remained unknown; Israeli officials assessed the incident as a possible attempted terror attack.
Official and Passenger Accounts
Airline Caution and Conflicting Reports
What happened in the cockpit
Official and Passenger Accounts
Israeli officials and passengers said the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and tried to crash or sabotage the aircraft, prompting passengers to restrain him.
Airline Caution and Conflicting Reports
Flydubai said the underlying reasons for the incident remained unknown and warned against premature speculation; some reports used differing descriptions of which pilot attacked the other.
How the incident should be characterized
Official and Passenger Accounts
Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a highly severe security incident, while Israeli officials assessed it as a possible attempted terror attack.
Airline Caution and Conflicting Reports
A spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office said the event was not believed to be a hijacking, and reports also raised the possibility of a pilot suicide attempt without establishing a motive.
Who regained control
Official and Passenger Accounts
Passenger accounts said passengers and crew members entered the cockpit, subdued the alleged attacker, and helped prevent a crash.
Airline Caution and Conflicting Reports
Reports differed over the precise roles of passengers, crew members, and two additional pilots in taking control and completing the landing.
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia
- Altitude change
- From nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in roughly one minute, according to Flightradar24 data
- Passengers
- All passengers were reported safe and accounted for; media reports said 166 of 174 were Israeli
- Pilot injuries
- Both pilots were hospitalized after sustaining injuries
- Emergency codes
- Reports said the aircraft transmitted codes 7700, then 7500, before returning to 7700
