Israel-Bound Flight Lands in Saudi Arabia After Pilot Attempts to Crash Plane
Preliminary tracking data suggest a sharp descent before Flydubai FZ1073 diverted to Tabuk, reportedly due to a fight between pilots; both were hospitalized, and all passengers were accounted for.
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An Israel-bound Flydubai aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a reported fight between its pilots and an apparent plunge of nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets.
Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, landed at Tabuk airport with both pilots injured.
Flydubai confirmed the passengers were safe but offered no explanation for the incident.
The reported descent comes from preliminary flight-tracking data. The cause of the cockpit violence, and whether either pilot deliberately activated the emergency signals, remained unclear.
Emergency Signals Trigger Military Response
Flightradar24 said the Boeing 737 MAX 8 diverted toward Saudi Arabia while over Jordan and initially transmitted a general emergency signal.
Several minutes later, it broadcast a code indicating possible unlawful interference, before reverting to the general emergency signal.
The tracking service said the apparent rapid descent preceded the first alert.
Its preliminary records also showed abrupt changes in reported altitude, including a rapid climb, at rates far outside normal flight patterns.
The Israeli military said fighter aircraft were dispatched toward the passenger jet amid concerns over a security incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with security officials as events unfolded.
His office subsequently said: “The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel.”
Reported Cockpit Fight Under Investigation
An Israeli official told Reuters that a physical altercation between the pilots preceded the emergency transmissions.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office, said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.
Tabuk airport confirmed that both pilots had been taken to hospital for treatment, without identifying how they were injured.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 carried more serious allegations, citing a senior official who suspected the co-pilot had tried to seize control and crash the aircraft.
It also reported allegations that the captain had been repeatedly stabbed and that passengers and crew intervened.
A passenger’s mother separately relayed her daughter’s account of screaming, a knife and blood aboard the aircraft; Reuters said it could not immediately verify a photograph circulating in Israeli media.
Flydubai described the event only as an “incident while en route.”
Saudi Authorities Question Crew and Passengers
Saudi authorities were examining the aircraft and questioning those aboard, according to two officials familiar with the matter.
The officials said Israel had sought Saudi permission to send an aircraft and officials to assist with the investigation and bring passengers back.
Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic relations.
Authorities in Israel and the UAE increased security as a precaution.
Flydubai operates daily services between Dubai and Tel Aviv, normally crossing Saudi and Jordanian airspace.
The route expanded after the UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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