A Flydubai passenger flight headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after Israeli officials said one of the pilots attempted to hijack the aircraft, setting off a violent confrontation in the cockpit.
Flydubai later confirmed there had been an "altercation" on the flight deck and said its crew secured the aircraft. The airline said all passengers were safe and accounted for.
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What happened
Israeli officials said the incident unfolded mid-air on flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben-Gurion Airport (TLV). The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, and Israeli media later reported that 166 of them were Israelis.
As described by Israeli officials, one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and tried to take control of the plane. An Israeli official said a "major disaster was narrowly avoided" and that authorities were examining what the pilot was attempting to do, including whether the apparent goal was to crash the aircraft into the ground or carry out a mass-casualty attack. During the struggle, the official said, the plane plunged about 4,000 meters.
Flight tracking and emergency signaling also reflected a rapidly developing crisis. The aircraft first transmitted squawk code 7700 (general emergency), then switched to 7500 (unlawful interference), and later returned to 7700.
How it was stopped
An Israeli passenger aboard the flight said one pilot stabbed the other and tried to force him out of the cockpit as the aircraft began to plunge. Israelis seated near the front rushed toward the cockpit and fought the attacker while the plane was diving, the passenger said.
Two other pilots seated at the back initially appeared to be in shock. “I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane,” the passenger said.
According to the passenger, the group managed to remove the attacker from the cockpit and get the two other pilots inside. One took control of the aircraft, while the other took longer to recover from the shock.
The passenger described the stabbed pilot as being in critical condition and said an Israeli dentist on board treated him and saved his life.
Landing in Saudi Arabia
The plane landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport, also known as Tabuk Airport. A statement released by the airport confirmed that both the pilot and first officer were wounded and later transferred to hospital for medical treatment after landing. The statement did not specify how the injuries occurred.
Flydubai said the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk (TUU) and that "all passengers are safe and accounted for." The airline added that it was working with relevant authorities and would provide updates when confirmed details were available.
Israel response
As the situation unfolded, Israel’s air defenses moved quickly. The Israel Air Force prepared fighter jets for a possible emergency and raised its alert level, and Israel temporarily closed its airspace before reopening it after the flight had landed in Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security consultation with defense officials. After those discussions, the Prime Minister’s Office said: "The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel."
Israeli sources also said UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan spoke with Netanyahu following the hijacking attempt.
Suspect and motive
By Wednesday evening, the growing assessment across Israel’s security establishment, including the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), was that the incident was intended as an act of terror.
Security sources said they believed the suspected hijacker was a single terrorist who acted on his own, with no ties to Iran or another terror organization. Israeli officials also said there was no evidence suggesting the suspected hijacker had backing from a foreign actor.
Israeli sources said initial investigations suggested the suspected hijacker is believed to be of Omani nationality, though authorities were still working to confirm identity and background.
Pilot nationality issue
The incident also raised a practical question about who is permitted to operate commercial routes into Israel.
A Transportation Ministry source said Flydubai’s deal to permit flights in and out of Ben-Gurion Airport requires pilots to be from countries that have normalized relations with Israel. Oman does not have normalized relations with Israel.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev requested that Shin Bet halt all Flydubai flights entering and exiting Israel due to unconfirmed reports that the pilot responsible for the incident was of Omani origin.
Getting passengers home
Flydubai said it sent two replacement aircraft to assist affected passengers and crew. An eyewitness described a fearful atmosphere at the airport in Saudi Arabia, including children crying.
Shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, a Flydubai plane sent to return the Israelis to Tel Aviv landed in Saudi Arabia, but most passengers initially refused to board, citing concerns that neither the aircraft nor the pilot were Israeli. Later on Wednesday, the Mossad and Shin Bet approved the rescue flight’s crew, and all passengers returned to Israel.
During the unfolding situation, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir also considered dispatching Israeli military or civilian aircraft to bring Israelis home. Zamir canceled a planned trip to the United States due to the incident.
Government reaction
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was the first member of government to issue a statement, calling for Israel to “address the intent and not the results.”
“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.
Passenger account
Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, said her daughter described hearing screaming and seeing a man take a knife, put the pilot on the floor, and blood everywhere.
What comes next
Authorities were investigating what happened aboard the flight, including the identity and background of the pilot who allegedly stabbed the other pilot and what he was trying to do.
For now, the clearest outcome is also the most important one: the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and Flydubai said passengers were safe and accounted for.