A Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after one pilot stabbed the other in what Israeli officials are investigating as a potential terror attack. Flight FZ1073, carrying approximately 150 passengers predominantly Israeli nationals, diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia after the violent altercation in the cockpit. Both pilots were wounded but all passengers landed safely.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 departed Dubai International Airport early on Wednesday and was scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. According to aviation tracking sources, approximately two hours into the flight, the aircraft transmitted an emergency code. Minutes later, it switched to a code typically used to signal a hijacking situation, before reverting to the general emergency signal. Flight tracking data documented a dramatic descent of more than 17,000 feet in less than two minutes, occurring just after 05:21 UTC. The aircraft subsequently entered Jordanian airspace briefly before looping back into Saudi Arabian territory, where it initiated its final descent toward Tabuk, landing at 06:45 GMT.
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attacker was an Omani national and that Israel's current assessment was that the incident constituted a terror attack. However, Israeli authorities have so far refrained from publicly calling the alleged attack a suspected terror incident, with the exception of far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who stated on social media that "terrorism is a devil with whom no agreement must be reached." Reuters reported that Israeli media gave conflicting accounts of the pilots' nationalities, with some identifying them as Omani and Emirati, while others said they were Russian and Ukrainian.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon described the harrowing moments aboard the aircraft, stating that "the co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane." She added: "It was really on the way to crashing, and it was simply the resourcefulness of many people who took control of the co-pilot and neutralised him." According to Israeli officials, the cabin crew took control of the cockpit and helped land the plane after the attack. A doctor on board treated the wounded pilot. Another passenger, Yasmin Abu Kaiss, reported that her daughter heard screaming and described a man with a knife putting a pilot on the floor, with blood everywhere. Videos of the incident showed passengers screaming as the plane descended, as well as a blood-covered man who appeared to be the injured pilot on the floor.
According to Saudi airport operator Cluster2, both the captain and first officer were taken to hospital following the landing.
How did authorities respond?
The rapid sequence of emergency code changes prompted the Israeli air force to dispatch fighter jets in response, fearing an attack on Israel or that the plane would be diverted to a third country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened urgent consultations regarding the situation. The Israeli prime minister's office initially stated that the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking attempt, as media reports circulated of a fight between the two pilots. As more information emerged about the violent nature of the attack, Israeli and international media began reporting officials anonymously saying an investigation had been opened into whether this was an attack on Israelis. According to CNN, Shin Bet, Mossad, the military and Israel's transport ministry were involved in investigating the incident, with investigators examining why a pilot from a country without diplomatic relations with Israel was on the crew. The head of the Israeli military, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, postponed his planned visit to the US next week over the incident, where he was meant to have a meeting with US joint chiefs of staff and the head of US Central Command.
What is the diplomatic significance?
The diversion to Saudi Arabia carries particular significance given that Saudi Arabia and Israel maintain no official diplomatic relations. The Israeli government's efforts to arrange the return of its citizens from Saudi territory represent a notable diplomatic undertaking, particularly given the historical tensions between the two nations. Flights between Dubai and Israel started after the countries normalised ties in 2020. Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, but in 2025 landed a plane in Riyadh because of a medical emergency.
What happens next?
Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers were accounted for and unharmed. According to Yahoo News, Flydubai said it was working to secure a replacement aircraft, while investigators looked into what happened onboard. Israeli media reported that a later Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv turned around in mid-air back towards Dubai after the incident. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office indicated that the situation was under control and that arrangements were being made to facilitate the passengers' return to Israel. Flydubai stated it would continue to issue updates as further details regarding the incident's cause and circumstances become available, though no specific timeline for such announcements was provided.
Key Facts
- Flight FZ1073 carried approximately 150 passengers, predominantly Israeli nationals, when it diverted from Tel Aviv to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning
- Israeli officials investigating the incident say the attacker was an Omani national and are treating it as a potential terror attack, though authorities have not made a public confirmation
- The aircraft transmitted multiple emergency codes during the incident, including a hijacking alert, before reverting to a general emergency signal
- The Boeing 737 MAX 8 experienced a rapid descent of over 17,000 feet in less than two minutes; cabin crew took control of the cockpit and helped land the plane after the attack
- Both pilots were wounded and taken to hospital; all passengers landed safely and were accounted for
