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A FlyDubai passenger flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an onboard altercation left both pilots injured. The incident triggered widespread alerts across the region and prompted the Israeli military to scramble at least two fighter jets in response.
Both Pilots Injured During Flight
FlyDubai Flight FZ 1073 diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, commonly known as Tabuk Airport, after the incident occurred mid-flight. Cluster2, which operates at several Saudi airports, confirmed that the captain and first officer both sustained injuries and received hospital treatment.
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Video footage from inside the Boeing 737 appeared to show two people lying on the cabin floor, visibly bloodied, while other passengers gathered around them. The images circulated widely after the plane landed safely.
Yasmin Abukasis, the mother of a passenger on the flight, told The Associated Press that her daughter heard screaming and someone she believed was a pilot calling for help. Abukasis said the plane appeared to lose control at one point. She described a man producing a knife and attempting to attack the pilot. “There was a lot of blood around,” she said, relaying her daughter’s account.
Emergency Codes and Altitude Fluctuations Raised Alarm
Aviation tracking site FlightRadar24 reported that the aircraft initially transmitted a 7700 general emergency signal. It then switched to a 7500 code, which indicates unlawful interference, before reverting to the 7700 code.
FlightRadar24 also recorded extreme fluctuations in the plane’s altitude data. According to the tracking site, the aircraft appeared to drop 14,125 feet in just 29 seconds. Those readings intensified concerns on the ground before the plane landed safely.
A FlyDubai spokesperson confirmed to NBC News that Flight FZ 1073 had “experienced an incident while en route” from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport. The airline said it was working to secure a replacement aircraft for passengers.
Israeli Military and Government Respond
The Israeli military told NBC News it scrambled at least two jets after the incident. Officials said they had not yet ruled out the possibility of a terrorism-related cause at that stage.
Israeli media outlets, including The Times of Israel and Ynet, cited unidentified security officials who suggested the emergency alert stemmed from a physical altercation between the two pilots. NBC News said it could not immediately confirm those details.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations and monitored developments throughout the morning. His office issued a statement on Wednesday saying the situation was under control. “All measures are currently being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel safely,” the statement read.
U.S. Ambassador Reacts
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed relief on social media platform X that the incident did not prove more serious. “This had everyone in the Middle East, especially Israel, on full alert this morning,” he wrote. He described the situation as pilots “detouring to fist city,” adding it was “not your ordinary experience.”
Investigators continued to examine what happened aboard the aircraft after it landed. The full circumstances behind the FlyDubai Flight FZ 1073 incident remained under active investigation as of Wednesday.
