US Confirms Four Citizens Aboard Hijacked Flydubai Flight

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that four American citizens were aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. The flight, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, experienced a severe emergency after the co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Jeddah are in direct contact with local authorities, with the administration stating its commitment to its citizens abroad.

The incident involved a dramatic dive of approximately 31,000 feet per minute, reaching speeds of nearly 930 km/h, triggering a "7500" emergency code indicating unlawful interference. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, and takeoffs from Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily halted.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, attacked the Emirati captain with a knife. Several Israeli passengers reportedly intervened, breaking into the cockpit to subdue the attacker. The captain and a Fijian relief pilot are credited with regaining control of the aircraft at around 15,000 feet.

Following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the plane was surrounded by security forces, passengers sang Hebrew songs like "Od Avinu Chai" (Our Father Lives Still). A replacement Flydubai aircraft was sent to Tabuk, and all passengers eventually reached their destination in Israel. The U.S. involvement adds an international diplomatic dimension to the ongoing investigation involving Saudi, Israeli, and Emirati authorities.