Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Attack

Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Attack

A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a reported attack in the cockpit. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, according to Israeli officials.

The aircraft, operating as flight FZ1073, landed at Tabuk airport after passengers and crew intervened and a second pair of pilots helped regain control. All passengers reached safety, although both pilots were injured and taken to hospital.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have launched an investigation into the incident. Officials are examining what happened aboard the aircraft, why the attack took place and whether it was connected to any wider security threat.

UAE Launches Investigation into the Cockpit Attack

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi ordered an investigation on Thursday to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

His office said investigators would gather evidence and examine the circumstances, possible motives and details of the attack. They will also look into whether it involved terrorist activity, prior planning or direction from another person or organisation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was too early to draw conclusions about the motive, including whether Iran had any involvement.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Netanyahu said the pilot accused of carrying out the attack was being investigated in Saudi Arabia. He added that Israel might take part in the investigation and would follow developments as the suspect was expected to be transferred to the UAE.

No confirmed motive or link to terrorism has been publicly established.

How the Incident Unfolded on Flight FZ1073

The Flydubai aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv through Jordanian airspace when the confrontation reportedly took place.

According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a knife and then attempted to bring down the aircraft. Flight-tracking data showed that the plane plunged almost 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds.

The sudden descent caused alarm among passengers, who realised that something was seriously wrong. Some reportedly moved towards the cockpit and intervened to stop the situation from escalating.

Despite his injuries, the captain managed to release the cockpit door, according to an account shared by Netanyahu's spokesperson with Reuters. This allowed passengers and crew to enter and overpower the co-pilot.

A second pair of Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft then helped take control and guide the plane to a safe landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Reuters also reported that Israel deployed fighter jets after the aircraft's emergency diversion.

Indian Captain Smit Machchhar Injured in the Attack

India's embassy in Saudi Arabia identified the injured captain as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk.

The embassy said his condition was stable and confirmed that it was in contact with his family and Saudi authorities.

Machchhar received praise from both Israeli and Indian leaders for his actions during the emergency.

Netanyahu said the captain helped save 174 people, including Israeli citizens and passengers of other nationalities. He also praised the passengers who entered the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Machchhar in a post on X on Thursday, describing him as a hero.

Officials at Tabuk airport confirmed that both the captain and first officer were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries.

Passengers Recall Fear and Confusion During the Flight

Passengers and their families described a frightening experience as the aircraft suddenly began to lose control.

Footage reportedly recorded inside the plane showed the injured captain lying on the cabin floor with several wounds. Another passenger appeared to have a bloody injury to the head.

A separate video captured passengers crying and shouting as the aircraft shook during the emergency.

Yasmin Abukasis, whose daughter Miriam was travelling on the flight, said her daughter feared she would die when the aircraft began losing control.

Speaking to journalists at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, Abukasis described the moments of uncertainty before the aircraft was stabilised and the passengers were brought to safety.

Passenger Dalia Shpigel told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that people sitting towards the front of the aircraft noticed unusual movements and became concerned when the plane began descending sharply.

She said some passengers broke into the cockpit after realising that the aircraft was no longer behaving normally.

Another passenger, Yitzhak Lieber, reportedly helped overpower the co-pilot. In a video message sent to his family from the aircraft, he said the injured pilot had been evacuated and the other pilot had been restrained.

Flight Data Shows Sudden Descent and Emergency Signals

Flight-tracking information offered further insight into the emergency aboard FZ1073.

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal, known as code 7700, at approximately 05:31 GMT. The signal was subsequently changed to code 7500, which indicates unlawful interference.

The tracking data also recorded a rapid descent of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, around two and a half hours after the aircraft departed Dubai.

The emergency signals and sudden change in altitude highlighted the seriousness of the incident. However, flight data alone does not establish exactly what happened inside the cockpit or why the aircraft descended.

Investigators will need to examine the aircraft's records, communications and witness accounts to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Passengers Reach Tel Aviv on a Replacement Flight

After the aircraft landed in Tabuk, passengers waited in Saudi Arabia before continuing their journey to Israel on a replacement flight.

Tabuk airport confirmed that the mostly Israeli group was transferred to another aircraft for the journey to Tel Aviv.

According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu was at Ben Gurion Airport to greet the returning passengers when their replacement flight arrived shortly before 16:00 GMT.

Families gathered in a designated area at the airport as security officials prepared to speak with passengers about what had happened.

The arrival of the replacement flight brought the passengers' journey to an end, although the investigation into the cockpit incident remained ongoing.

Flydubai Urges Public to Avoid Speculation

Flydubai said the circumstances and motives behind the incident had not yet been established and called for patience while authorities investigated.

In a statement, the airline said the reasons behind the event remained unknown and were subject to a formal investigation. It urged people not to draw conclusions before investigators had gathered the necessary facts.

The investigation is expected to examine the reported attack, the aircraft's sudden descent, emergency communications and the actions of the crew and passengers.

The incident has also raised questions about aviation security and the circumstances that led to the confrontation inside the cockpit.