A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following a violent altercation between the pilots in the cockpit. Flight FDB1073, a Boeing 737 MAX carrying 180 passengers, landed safely at the Tabuk airport, a facility serving both civilian and military purposes.
Passengers described a harrowing experience as the aircraft suddenly lost altitude, dropping from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in less than a minute. Flight tracking data indicated the plane performed an erratic maneuver near the Jordan-Saudi border while broadcasting a 7700 emergency squawk code. Reports also indicated that a 7500 code, signaling unlawful interference or hijacking, was briefly transmitted during the incident.
Witnesses on board reported hearing shouting from the front of the cabin before the plane dived. One passenger, identified as Miriam, told Channel 15 that when the cockpit door was opened, blood was visible. According to her account, a pilot was struck with a folding knife, prompting passengers and crew members to intervene and subdue the attacker. Another passenger told The Times of Israel, "We heard screams, the plane dived."
While the exact cause of the fight remains under investigation, an Israeli official stated that a "major disaster was narrowly avoided," amid unconfirmed reports suggesting one pilot may have attempted to crash the aircraft. Israel reportedly scrambled warplanes as a precaution due to concerns over a potential hijacking involving its citizens.
Flydubai confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the flight landed safely and that the airline is coordinating with relevant authorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the situation is under control and that efforts are underway to return the passengers to Israel.
This event marks a rare instance of cockpit violence, reminiscent of a 2022 incident involving Air France pilots. Commercial air travel between the UAE and Israel has grown significantly since the two nations normalized diplomatic relations in 2020.
