Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Flydubai Flight Incident Sparks Terror Attack and Hijacking Claims
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an emergency happened in the cockpit.
Reports say the pilots had a violent disagreement.
The plane changed its emergency radio codes and descended sharply.
It then landed safely in Saudi Arabia instead of continuing to Israel.
Some Israeli reports said the incident could have been a hijacking or terrorist attack.
Other accounts described it as a fight between the pilots.
The reports disagree about which pilot attacked the other.
Officials in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had not publicly confirmed what really happened.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia after a reported cockpit altercation.
Israeli media and an Israeli official cited competing claims that the incident may have involved an attempted hijacking or terror attack.
Reports disagree over whether the pilot or co-pilot attacked the other and who allegedly tried to crash the aircraft.
The aircraft reportedly transmitted emergency codes 7700, 7500 and later 7700 again during the incident.
Israeli authorities reportedly scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airspace, but no government has confirmed the circumstances.
- Who
- The Flydubai flight crew and passengers were involved; Israeli authorities and media reported on the incident.
- What
- A reported cockpit altercation caused an emergency diversion, amid unconfirmed claims of an attempted hijacking or terror attack.
- When
- The incident occurred earlier on the day described in the reports; no exact date was provided.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The reported reason for the emergency remains unclear because authorities had not confirmed whether it was a cockpit fight, hijacking attempt or terror attack.
Terror Attack or Hijacking Theory
Cockpit Altercation Theory
Nature of the incident
Terror Attack or Hijacking Theory
Channel 12, Ynet, N12 and other Israeli media reported that Israel was treating the incident as a possible terrorist attack or hijacking attempt.
Cockpit Altercation Theory
Other reporting described the emergency as a violent altercation between the pilots, without establishing a terrorist motive.
Who initiated the violence
Terror Attack or Hijacking Theory
One Israeli account said the pilot attacked the co-pilot and attempted to crash or hijack the aircraft.
Cockpit Altercation Theory
Unconfirmed Hebrew-language reports said the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Emirati captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, showing that accounts conflict.
Certainty of the claims
Terror Attack or Hijacking Theory
Israeli officials reportedly considered the possibility serious enough to prompt fighter jets, an urgent government discussion and temporary airspace closure.
Cockpit Altercation Theory
Israeli, Saudi and Emirati authorities had not issued a definitive public account, so the terror-attack interpretation remained unconfirmed.
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Diversion
- Emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
- Emergency codes
- The aircraft reportedly used Squawk 7700, then 7500, and later returned to 7700.
- Israeli response
- Reports said Israel scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed its airspace.
- Official confirmation
- No official account from Israeli, Saudi or Emirati authorities had confirmed the circumstances in the reports.
