Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Flydubai Flight Diverts After Alleged Cockpit Attack, Passengers Land
A Flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv had a frightening problem in its cockpit.
Passengers said they heard screams and saw blood.
They said the plane suddenly dropped to a much lower altitude.
Some passengers alleged that the co-pilot attacked the captain and tried to make the plane crash.
Officials confirmed that both pilots were hurt and taken to a hospital.
The plane safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after asking for an emergency landing.
The passengers were later flown from Tabuk to Tel Aviv on another Flydubai aircraft.
Another Flydubai flight going to Tel Aviv turned around and returned to Dubai.
Authorities had not publicly confirmed every detail of the alleged cockpit attack.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a reported cockpit altercation and distress call.
Passengers described screams, blood and a steep plunge, while accounts alleged that the co-pilot attacked the captain and tried to crash the aircraft.
Saudi aviation officials confirmed both pilots were injured and hospitalized, but did not officially confirm the alleged stabbing or attempted hijacking.
FZ1073 passengers later flew from Tabuk on a replacement Flydubai aircraft and arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at 1534 GMT.
A second flight, FZ1081, diverted from its Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route and returned to Dubai amid reported hijacking fears.
- Who
- Passengers and crew aboard Flydubai flights FZ1073 and FZ1081, including the captain and co-pilot of FZ1073.
- What
- FZ1073 made an emergency landing after an alleged cockpit attack and reported loss of control; its passengers later continued to Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft, while FZ1081 returned to Dubai.
- When
- Wednesday, September 30; FZ1073 issued its distress call at 8:44 a.m. local time and its passengers reached Tel Aviv at 1534 GMT.
- Where
- FZ1073 landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and its passengers later arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
- Why
- FZ1073 requested an emergency landing after an incident involving the pilots. FZ1081 diverted amid reported hijacking fears, although the reports do not establish the exact reason for its return.
Passenger and Israeli Accounts
Confirmed Facts and Official Uncertainty
What happened in the cockpit
Passenger and Israeli Accounts
Passengers alleged that the co-pilot stabbed or attacked the captain, tried to seize control and intended to crash the aircraft. An Israeli official reportedly said information supported this account, and Israeli leaders described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.
Confirmed Facts and Official Uncertainty
Saudi aviation officials confirmed that both pilots were injured and hospitalized, but the reports said there was no official confirmation of the alleged stabbing, attempted crash or exact sequence of events.
Condition of the flight
Passenger and Israeli Accounts
Passengers described the aircraft as completely or almost out of control, with screams, blood and a sudden plunge from roughly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet.
Confirmed Facts and Official Uncertainty
Despite the reported disturbance, FZ1073 landed safely in Tabuk just over an hour after requesting an emergency landing.
Passenger injuries
Passenger and Israeli Accounts
One passenger said that, apart from the pilot, there were no passenger injuries and that the main danger was the threat of a crash.
Confirmed Facts and Official Uncertainty
Saudi aviation officials said passengers were treated at the airport terminal, while other reports stated both pilots were injured; the accounts differ on the scope of injuries.
- Affected flights
- Flydubai flights FZ1073 and FZ1081
- Original route
- FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Emergency airport
- Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Distress call
- FZ1073 contacted Tabuk airport at 8:44 a.m. local time
- Pilot injuries
- Saudi aviation officials said both the captain and co-pilot were injured and hospitalized
- Passenger arrival
- Passengers from FZ1073 reached Ben Gurion Airport at 1534 GMT on a replacement Flydubai aircraft
- Second diversion
- FZ1081 returned to Dubai instead of continuing to Tel Aviv
- Reported arrest
- One account said the pilot alleged to have stabbed the other was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities
