Passengers Subdue Pilot in Apparent Hijacking Attempt on Flydubai Flight
A knife-wielding pilot allegedly attacked his co-pilot before passengers intervened, forcing the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv to land in Saudi Arabia.
A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a pilot allegedly attempted to hijack the plane by stabbing his co-pilot. Passengers on board flight FZ1073 managed to overpower the assailant, averting what an Israeli official described as a "major disaster."
The incident began when the pilot reportedly attacked the co-pilot with a knife. Passengers heard altercations in the cockpit and the aircraft experienced a steep nosedive, dropping nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Some passengers described hearing shouts and seeing blood before realizing the gravity of the situation.
One passenger, Itzhak Liber, filmed a plea for help, stating, "There is a hijacking. We have taken control of the terrorist – we need help." He explained that passengers and the co-pilot had subdued the attacker, who was armed with a knife. The passenger noted that the plane was landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and requested assistance.
Images and footage circulating from the cabin showed passengers with blood on their clothing and the wounded pilot on the floor receiving oxygen from other passengers. A second crew member was also seen tied up, seemingly unconscious and covered in blood.
Israeli security authorities, including the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet, are investigating the incident as a potential act of terror, with the consensus leaning towards the pilot's deliberate attempt to crash the jet. A second team of pilots, reportedly in civilian clothes, is believed to have been on board and may have prevented the pilot from fully taking control of the aircraft.
Following the emergency landing in Tabuk, Flydubai stated that the aircraft had landed safely and all passengers were accounted for. The airline arranged for a second aircraft to transport the passengers to their original destination in Israel. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, held urgent meetings to discuss the unfolding situation, and Israeli airspace was temporarily closed and later reopened.