Flydubai Hijacking Scare: Emirati Pilot Fights Off Co-Pilot, Lands Safely in Saudi Arabia

Israeli security forces are investigating a dramatic incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ 1073 en route to Tel Aviv, during which an Emirati pilot allegedly fought off his co-pilot, who was attempting to crash the plane. The co-pilot, identified as being from Oman, was reportedly subdued with the help of Israeli passengers. The prevailing assessment is that the event was an act of terrorism.

The flight, carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, departed Dubai at 6:05 AM. Approximately two hours into the flight, at 8:21 AM, the aircraft experienced severe altitude fluctuations, losing over 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. By 8:31 AM, the plane transmitted a general emergency code (7700), followed at 8:38 AM by a hijacking code (7500).

In response, two Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled, and senior military officials, including the IDF Chief of Staff, held emergency consultations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an urgent security briefing at 9:20 AM. Fifteen minutes later, reports indicated the aircraft was heading for a landing in Saudi Arabia, escorted by fighter jets.

The plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia at 9:45 AM. Passengers reported seeing "amounts of blood in the cockpit" and described a struggle where passengers intervened to remove an assailant with a knife who had stabbed one of the pilots. One passenger shared a video detailing the events, stating the "terrorist is neutralized" and that a severely injured pilot was managing to land the plane.

Flydubai officially confirmed a distress signal was activated due to an act of violence on board, initially describing it as a fight between the pilots themselves. The airline has launched an investigation and informed Israeli authorities. The Mossad is currently managing the situation with Saudi Arabia, while Israel is coordinating the necessary approvals for an Israeli military aircraft to retrieve the passengers.