Flydubai flight makes emergency landing after alleged cockpit attack

A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an alleged confrontation between the pilot and co-pilot left both injured.

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk after the aircraft sent a distress call requesting an emergency landing.

According to Israeli officials and media reports, one of the pilots allegedly stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers reportedly intervened and helped overpower the alleged attacker.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the incident as terrorism, alleging that the attacker “planned to crash a plane and murder the 180 Israelis on board.”

The airport said its air traffic control centre received the distress call at 8:44 a.m. local time, with the aircraft landing at 9:45 a.m.

Both the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to hospital, according to the airport, which did not disclose details of their injuries.

Passengers were assisted after the emergency landing, while the airport worked with Flydubai to arrange a replacement aircraft. Saudi authorities launched an investigation into the incident.

Flydubai confirmed that an “incident” had occurred on board, according to Al Arabiya.

The aircraft reportedly first transmitted emergency code 7700, indicating a general emergency, before switching to code 7500, which signals a possible hijacking.

Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that the aircraft entered a steep descent before one pilot, assisted by passengers, prevented the other from allegedly crashing the plane.

A passenger told N12 that there were “screams and panic” as passengers helped restrain the alleged attacker.

Another passenger said she later saw a large amount of blood in the cockpit, adding: “There were moments when we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also described the incident as an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft and kill those on board.

“Whoever tried to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis must pay as if he murdered. He and every state or terrorist organization that sent him,” Smotrich wrote on X.

Ben-Gvir also wrote on X: “Terrorism is an evil with which no agreement should be reached other than defeating it and wiping it off the face of the earth.”

Saudi authorities are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.