A Flydubai flight bound for Israel plunged 17,000ft in 29 seconds after a hijacking alert was sounded, with passengers reporting screams as the aircraft entered a steep dive. The incident occurred on FZ1073 from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv at 3:05 GMT (7:05 local time) today.
Pilot accused of stabbing colleague
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots “stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane”. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described it as an “attempted jihadist terror attack”.
The accused pilot is thought to be from Oman, while the colleague who was stabbed is from the UAE. Passengers rushed the cockpit, and two off-duty pilots travelling on the flight—one of whom is thought to be British—helped land the plane.
Emergency response and passenger accounts
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after the code 7500 alert—indicating a potential hijacking—was issued. The plane had roughly 150 people on board.
An Israeli passenger told The Jerusalem Post: “there were terrible screams from children who didn’t want to die.” Another passenger described the aircraft entering a “steep dive, nose down, with a very intense spin”.
“The spinning stopped. It felt like an eternity, but I think it was at least two or three minutes, during which the plane was simply diving and spinning like crazy,” he said. “It felt like that’s it. It’s over. Sept 11 is happening again.”
Diversion and airline statement
The plane eventually headed to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, and flights at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv were suspended. Netanyahu and Katz held an urgent security consultation following the incident.
Flydubai issued a statement saying: "The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport (TUU). All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for."
The airline added that two replacement aircraft have been sent to Tabuk to "relieve" the passengers and crew involved, and that the incident has "no impact" on other scheduled flydubai services.
Flydubai stated: "At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation. We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts. Our immediate priority is to ensure the ongoing safety, health, and wellbeing of all passengers and crew members involved in this incident and support the official investigation."
