A routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a serious mid-air emergency on Wednesday after an incident inside the cockpit triggered fears of a possible hijacking. Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was heading towards Ben Gurion Airport, sent emergency signals before diverting to Saudi Arabia and landing safely at Tabuk Airport.
What initially appeared to be a hijacking alert was later linked by Israeli officials to a violent confrontation between the two pilots. Reports have also alleged that one pilot tried to take control of the aircraft in a dangerous manner before being restrained. The exact sequence of events and the motive remain under investigation.
Flydubai Flight Sends Hijack Alert
BREAKING: a Flydubai Dubai–Tel Aviv jet, FZ1073, dropped roughly 17,400 feet in under two minutes, flashed “emergency” then “hijack” then “emergency” again on Flightradar24, and diverted into Tabuk after what Israeli officials tell CNN was a violent fight between the two pilots… https://t.co/s76TkjuObb pic.twitter.com/JAgxnaaXLf
— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) September 30, 2026
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport for Tel Aviv with around 150 passengers on board. During the flight, the aircraft first transmitted the international emergency code 7700, which indicates a general emergency.
It later transmitted squawk 7500. That code is used to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft and is commonly associated with a possible hijacking. The alert immediately raised security concerns because the aircraft was travelling towards Israel. The aircraft was subsequently diverted towards Saudi Arabia. It eventually landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Flydubai said all passengers were safe.
What Happened Inside The Cockpit?
🚨 BREAKING: Flydubai flight makes emergency landing in Tabuk after pilots reportedly fought in the cockpit mid-air.
The plane briefly transmitted squawk 7500 before reverting to 7700; all passengers are safe.#Flydubai #ولي__العهد #Dubai #プロセカ6周年 pic.twitter.com/PNSITxfiN7
— Eyes on the Globe (@eyes_globe) September 30, 2026
Initial reports pointed to a violent altercation between the captain and co-pilot. Israeli officials later said the incident was a fight between the pilots rather than a conventional hijacking.
However, reports about exactly what happened inside the cockpit remain different. Reuters reported that Israeli officials were treating the incident as a possible attempted terror attack, while other reports initially described it as a fight between the pilots. The motive has not been conclusively established.
Passenger accounts added to the confusion. Miriam, a passenger quoted in reports, said she heard screaming from the cockpit. When the door opened, she reportedly saw an injured pilot on the floor with a folding knife still in his hand.
“Blood everywhere,” she said.
The reported stabbing has not been independently confirmed in every account, although Israeli officials and several media reports have described a knife attack inside the cockpit.
Plane Reportedly Went Into A Sharp Descent
The situation became even more alarming when the aircraft rapidly lost altitude during the incident. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft making a steep descent before stabilising. Reuters reported that the plane plummeted nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before the crew regained control. Other reports have given different figures based on the flight-tracking data available at the time.
The sudden descent was one of the reasons the incident triggered such a strong security response. A flight sending a 7500 signal while also losing altitude naturally raised concerns that the aircraft might have been under unlawful control.
Passengers Helped Control The Situation
فيديو متداول يظهر رجلاً قيل إنه طيار «فلاي دبي» مغطى بالدماء، وسط تقارير عن طعنه داخل قمرة القيادة قبل الهبوط الاضطراري في تبوك. ملابسات الاعتداء لم تُحسم بعد.
#Flydubai #FZ1073 #فلاي_دبي #تبوك pic.twitter.com/Rt1ATMOV7p— إيلاف (@Elaph) September 30, 2026
According to reports based on passenger accounts, people inside the cabin became involved after the cockpit door opened. One Israeli passenger reportedly entered the cockpit and helped the other pilot restrain the person involved in the confrontation. The incident was eventually brought under control, allowing the aircraft to divert safely to Tabuk.
Reports have differed over whether the incident should be described as an attempted hijacking, an attempted crash or a violent confrontation between crew members. Israeli officials have also considered a possible terror-related motive, while other early accounts suggested the incident could have involved a suicide attempt. The investigation is expected to establish what actually happened.
Why Did Israel Scramble Fighter Jets?
The 7500 emergency code prompted an immediate security response. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities tried to establish whether the aircraft had been hijacked or was facing another form of security threat.
The response was understandable given the flight’s destination and the emergency signals coming from the aircraft. Israeli authorities also held high-level security consultations as the situation unfolded. The flight was eventually confirmed to have landed safely in Saudi Arabia, bringing an end to the immediate danger for those on board.
Rare Landing In Saudi Arabia
#breaking #flyDubai#islamists #israelis #saudi#Dubai #terrorist #hijacked #plane
Israeli Passengers describe: the chief pilot stabbed the co pilot and tried to crash the plane which was loaded with israelis on its way back home to Israel . This according to Israeli… pic.twitter.com/dcWLKC06jB
— REAL Facts caller (@Msgivesashit) September 30, 2026
The aircraft’s diversion also attracted attention because it involved an Israel-bound commercial flight landing in Saudi Arabia. Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have formal diplomatic relations. As a result, the arrival of a flight carrying Israeli passengers at a Saudi airport was unusual.
The incident comes against the backdrop of growing commercial air connectivity between Israel and the UAE. Direct commercial flights between the two countries began after they normalised relations in 2020.
Investigation Continues
The Flydubai incident remains under investigation, and several details are still being established. What is clear is that FZ1073 sent emergency signals, briefly transmitted the code associated with unlawful interference, diverted from its route and landed safely at Tabuk Airport.
The reports of a stabbing, the actions of the pilots and the reason behind the cockpit confrontation are now central to the investigation. Israeli officials have raised the possibility of a deliberate attack, while other early accounts described the event as a violent fight between the pilots.
For the passengers, however, the immediate priority was getting the aircraft safely on the ground. After the chaotic incident in the air, FZ1073 ultimately landed in Saudi Arabia without any reported passenger fatalities.
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