Flydubai Passengers Return to Israel After Dramatic Mid-Air Attack

Passengers from a Flydubai flight, FZ1073, have returned to Israel after their plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an attack on the captain by the co-pilot. The replacement aircraft landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on the evening of September 30, carrying approximately 180 passengers, mostly Israelis, who had departed from Dubai earlier that day.

The flight took a dramatic turn when the co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The plane rapidly lost altitude, descending over 6 kilometers from its cruising height. Passengers and crew managed to enter the cockpit, subdue the attacker, and the aircraft subsequently landed safely in Tabuk.

In Tabuk, passengers waited for several hours for the replacement plane sent by Flydubai. Initially, some Israelis hesitated to board the new aircraft, fearing a repeat of the incident and seeking safety assurances. After the crew underwent checks, passengers agreed to fly.

Upon landing in Israel, passengers were met with applause and cheers. Medical teams were on standby, and one 50-year-old man was taken to Assaf Harofeh Hospital with minor injuries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present at the airport to greet the passengers, personally commending Yaniv Hayon, who was among those who entered the cockpit and disarmed the attacker. Netanyahu called Hayon a "hero."

The incident triggered an alert within Israel's security system, with fighter jets scrambled as the Boeing 737 initially transmitted an emergency code (7700) and then a hijacking code (7500). The flight carried 174 passengers, including 27 children, all of whom are now safely back in Israel.