2 hrs ago
Flydubai Flight Diverts After Cockpit Fight and Steep Descent
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Israel when something went wrong in the cockpit.
Passengers said they heard screaming and saw blood after the cockpit door opened.
Some passengers reported that one pilot may have stabbed the other with a knife.
They also said the plane suddenly dropped a long distance, which was frightening.
The aircraft sent emergency signals, including one often linked to hijacking.
Because officials could not immediately understand what was happening, Israel sent fighter jets.
The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Officials later said the main assessment was that the pilots had fought, not that the plane had been hijacked.
The airline said everyone was safe and planned to fly the passengers onward to Israel.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an inflight incident.
Passengers described screams, blood in the cockpit and an alleged stabbing, but those details were not independently confirmed.
Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 737 MAX dropping roughly 17,000 feet during a sharp descent.
The aircraft transmitted emergency codes 7700 and briefly 7500, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets amid hijacking fears.
Flydubai said all passengers were safe and accounted for and arranged another aircraft to take them to Israel.
- Who
- Passengers and crew aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073; the reported incident involved the two pilots.
- What
- The flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged cockpit fight, emergency signals and a sharp descent.
- Where
- The aircraft was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- September 30, 2026, according to the airline statements quoted in the reports.
- Why
- Officials attributed the emergency to an apparent physical altercation between the pilots, while reports of an attempted hijacking or crash remained unconfirmed.
Official Assessment
Passenger Accounts and Unconfirmed Reports
Nature of the incident
Official Assessment
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking. Israeli officials and reports citing security sources attributed it to a physical fight or dispute between the pilots, while Flydubai described it as an inflight incident.
Passenger Accounts and Unconfirmed Reports
Passengers described screams, blood in the cockpit and an alleged stabbing. Some reports claimed one pilot tried to take control of the aircraft and crash it, but Flydubai and other authorities had not independently confirmed those details.
Reason for the military response
Official Assessment
Israel scrambled fighter jets after the emergency codes were transmitted and authorities could not immediately establish what was happening aboard the aircraft.
Passenger Accounts and Unconfirmed Reports
The brief transmission of code 7500, the aircraft's steep descent and reports of a cockpit struggle made passengers and officials fear a hijacking or more serious attack.
Pilot identities and injuries
Official Assessment
The reports did not provide a confirmed official account of the pilots' nationalities or the full extent of their injuries.
Passenger Accounts and Unconfirmed Reports
Media reports variously described the pilots as Russian and Ukrainian, or as an Omani co-pilot and Indian captain; passengers reported that one pilot was stabbed and seriously injured. These accounts were not confirmed consistently.
Key facts
- Flight
- Flydubai FZ1073, also identified in one report as FDB1073
- Route
- Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
- Passengers
- Reports estimated between 174 and 180 people aboard, with one report mentioning 27 children
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Diversion airport
- Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia
- Emergency signals
- Code 7700, a general emergency signal, followed briefly by code 7500, associated with hijacking or unlawful interference
- Passenger transfer
- Flydubai said a second aircraft would take the passengers from Saudi Arabia to Israel
Quotes
An unidentified passenger
Passenger who described the flight’s descent and cockpit disturbance to The Times of Israel
“flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route. The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority”
republicworld.com
“Screams began on the plane… by passengers who realised what was happening. We understand that one of the pilots was stabbed and seriously wounded, and they lost control of the plane. It started to dive quickly. It was very scary.”
indianexpress.com
republicworld.com
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office
Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenting on the passengers’ safety.
“The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel,”
indianexpress.com
NDTV
Sources
'Heard Screams, Then Plane Dived': Flyers Recount flydubai Flight Horror
Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight News Live Updates: Flydubai passengers recall mid-air horror; ‘there was blood in the cockpit’
Mid-Air Mayhem: Pilot 'Stabbed' On Flydubai Flight, Plane Dives 17,000 Feet; Jets Scrambled
In flydubai Scare, Russian, Ukrainian Pilots Fought In Cockpit: Report
Flydubai Hijack Scare: ‘We’ve Subdued The Terrorists, We Need Help,’ Passenger Says After Cockpit Fight
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Flydubai Flight Incident Sparks Terror Attack and Hijacking Claims
Two Flydubai Flights Diverted Amid Fears of Hijacking
Flydubai FZ1073 Diverts Safely After Severe Altitude Changes, FZ1081 Scare
Dubai-Israel Flight Diverted After Reported Cockpit Fight and Hijack Fears
FlyDubai flight scare ends with emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
Flydubai Flight Drops 14,000 Feet During Cockpit Fight
Reports Say Flydubai Pilots Were Omani And Indian-Origin
Flydubai Flight Diverted After Hijack Code Triggers Security Alert
