A Fly Dubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, after a violent incident in the cockpit.
Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737, was carrying around 150-180 passengers and plunged nearly 14,400ft in under two minutes before the crew regained control.
As per the flight tracking data, the aircraft transmitted a general emergency signal (7700) and then a hijacking code (7500) before landing safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The officials reported that the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the captain, prompting cabin crew and passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker. Both pilots were hospitalized with injuries.
Passengers reported hearing screams and “a huge amount of blood” before the cockpit door opened. Fly Dubai confirmed the incident as an “incident” and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely, adding that all passengers were safe and accounted for.
The airline operates up to 10 daily flights on the same route, which became popular after the 2020 Abraham Accords. The incident sparked questions about how the Omani pilot obtained clearance to operate the flight, as both countries do not have formal diplomatic relations.
2026-09-30 17:44:00
