A Flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an incident in the cockpit. According to preliminary reports, the co-pilot wounded the captain with a knife. Passengers and crew members helped restrain the attacker.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to Reuters, the incident occurred on 30 September 2026 on flight FZ1073, operated by Flydubai on the Dubai — Tel Aviv route. During the flight, the crew sent out distress signals, after which the plane changed course and headed towards Saudi Arabia.
According to the flight tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft transmitted emergency codes 7700 and 7500. The first signal indicates a general emergency, while the second is used to report a threat of unlawful interference.
The plane descended sharply, after which the crew decided to make a forced landing. The airliner landed safely at the airport in the city of Tabuk in the north-west of the country.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COCKPIT
According to three anonymous Israeli officials, a physical altercation took place between the pilots. Reports later emerged that the co-pilot may have attacked the captain with a knife. The suspected attacker was named as a citizen of Oman.
According to the account of a relative of one of the passengers, she heard shouting and saw a man with a knife. According to her, one of the pilots ended up on the floor, and there was blood on board. These details circulated in the Israeli media, but it has not yet been possible to independently confirm all the circumstances of the incident.
WHY BOTH PILOTS ENDED UP IN HOSPITAL
After landing in Tabuk, both pilots required medical assistance. The airport administration reported their hospitalisation. According to preliminary information, the captain suffered more serious injuries.
The passengers were not injured. A Flydubai representative confirmed that everyone on board has been accounted for and is safe. The airline also stated that it is co-operating with the relevant authorities and will provide further information as the circumstances are confirmed.
WHY THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE SCRAMBLED FIGHTER JETS
The appearance of code 7500, which is used in the event of a hijacking or other unlawful interference, caused concern among the Israeli authorities. Amid the lack of clear information about what was happening on board, the military took precautionary measures.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) scrambled fighter jets to escort the passenger plane. After the airliner landed in Saudi Arabia, the escort was discontinued.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with representatives of the security services. His office reported that the situation is under control and the authorities are taking measures to return the Israeli passengers home.
WHAT VERSIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED AFTER THE INCIDENT
After the emergency landing, various versions of what happened appeared in the media. In particular, a possible hijacking attempt, an intention by one of the pilots to crash the plane, and a conflict between crew members were discussed. Israeli officials cited by Reuters said they are considering the possibility of a terrorist attack.
Contradictory information about the nationality of the pilots also appeared in Israeli media publications.
The first reports in the Israeli media contained contradictory information about the nationality of the pilots. In particular, it was reported that the captain of the plane may have been a Russian citizen, and the co-pilot a Ukrainian citizen.
Later, the publication Ynet reported a different version: the suspected attacker is a native of Oman, and the captain of the aircraft is a citizen of the UAE. Similar information was reported by Reuters, citing Israeli officials.
