Routine Crew Decision Saved Flydubai Flight From Crash

A routine personnel decision, not an immediate security threat, led to the presence of extra pilots on a Flydubai flight to Israel, ultimately saving the aircraft from a crash. An informed source told the Jerusalem Post that the relief pilots were added due to concerns that regional air traffic control changes could extend the flight path, potentially causing the original crew to exceed their legal duty hours. Such delays, possibly over Kuwait, could have added up to two hours to the flight, preventing the crew from operating the return leg.

The critical nature of this operational choice became apparent when the co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane. Flight data indicated the Boeing 737 plummeted nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before a "7500" distress code, signaling hijacking, was transmitted.

At this point, an Israeli passenger noticed the two additional pilots seated in the cabin. "I had to shake them to get them to move forward and take control of the plane, because it was diving," the passenger recounted to the newspaper. He confirmed one of the relief pilots reached the cockpit and took control of the controls, while the other appeared initially stunned.

Simultaneously, other Israeli passengers fought the assailant, managing to restrain him with mobile phone charging cables. An Israeli dentist provided medical attention to the severely injured captain. Flydubai has been one of the few foreign airlines to maintain continuous flights to Israel since the war began, necessitating constant preparedness for disruptions and route extensions.

This precautionary measure ensured four pilots were aboard, enabling the relief crew to regain control and safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.