September 30, 2026

DUBAI: A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in the Saudi Arabian city of Tabuk on Wednesday after what Israeli officials and passengers described as an incident in the cockpit involving an alleged knife attack on one of the pilots. The flight was carrying around 150 passengers, most of them Israeli citizens. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had encountered an “incident” during the flight but said all passengers were safe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot who allegedly attacked his colleague with a knife had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities. Netanyahu said initial information indicated that one pilot had attacked another and had allegedly attempted to damage the aircraft’s systems. He said the aircraft changed course before eventually landing in Tabuk. Flydubai did not confirm the nature of the incident or the reported confrontation between the pilots.

What Happened on the Flight?

Passengers said panic broke out after an incident in the cockpit. Some reported hearing shouting and said they saw blood after one of the pilots was injured. According to passengers, members of the crew and some passengers helped restrain the alleged attacker, while other pilots later took control of the aircraft. The family of one passenger told news organisations that the aircraft appeared to become unstable and began losing altitude, causing fear among those on board. Another passenger said two relief pilots later took control of the aircraft and helped land it safely at Tabuk airport.

Emergency Signals and Change of Course

According to flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, Flydubai flight FZ1073 transmitted the emergency code 7700 about two hours after departing Dubai International Airport. A few minutes later, the aircraft also transmitted code 7500, which is commonly associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. The signal was later changed back to a general emergency code. Flight data showed that the aircraft rapidly descended after entering Saudi airspace and briefly entered Jordanian airspace before returning towards Saudi Arabia. The aircraft eventually diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

Pilots Injured

The company operating Tabuk airport said the aircraft’s captain and first officer were both injured and taken to hospital for treatment. According to the company, air traffic control received an emergency call from the aircraft at 8:44 a.m. local time requesting permission to make an emergency landing. The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk about an hour later.

Flydubai Statement

Flydubai said its flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport on September 30 had encountered an incident during the journey. The airline said the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk and that all passengers were safe. It added that its teams were working with the relevant authorities and that further confirmed information would be provided when available.

Israeli Authorities Respond

Israeli authorities reviewed the situation after the incident, and Israeli fighter jets were reportedly dispatched. The Israeli military said its chief of staff held an assessment meeting with senior military officials after receiving initial information about the incident. Officials from the air force, operations and intelligence branches took part in the meeting. Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew members for what he described as their presence of mind, saying their actions had prevented a potentially serious incident. The full circumstances of what happened inside the cockpit, including the cause of the confrontation and the sequence of events, remain under investigation. An alternative aircraft was sent to Tabuk to transport the Israeli passengers to their destination.