Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Stabbing and Brawl

Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent incident between the pilots. According to reports, one of the pilots stabbed the other. The plane, a Boeing 737, was carrying around 150 Israeli passengers and was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Incident Details

The incident occurred when the plane was flying over Jordanian airspace, and the pilots got into a physical altercation. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain, and the plane began to lose control. However, the passengers and other crew members were able to intervene and overpower the attacker, taking control of the plane and diverting it to Saudi Arabia. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board."

Investigation Underway

Israeli officials are investigating the incident, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the country is treating it as a terror attack. The Israeli Air Force scrambled warplanes during the incident. The UAE, where the flight originated, has not commented on the incident, while the Dubai-owned airline has only said that the flight experienced an "incident" and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.

Pilot and Passenger Accounts

Passengers on the flight have described the chaotic scenes, with one passenger saying that the plane was "pretty much out of control" when the stabbing took place. Another passenger said that the attacker was subdued by the passengers, who then took control of the plane and diverted it to Saudi Arabia. As passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said, "The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane... It was really on the way to crashing, and it was simply the resourcefulness of many people who took control of the co-pilot and neutralized him."

Flight Details

The flight, FZ1073, took off from Dubai and was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv. However, the plane began to lose altitude and turned sharply to the north, descending rapidly before issuing a distress call and then squawking code 7500, which signals aircraft hijacking.

Detail	Information
Flight Number	FZ1073
Departure	Dubai
Destination	Tel Aviv
Aircraft Type	Boeing 737
Number of Passengers	Around 150

Response and Aftermath

The incident has triggered a national security consultation in Israel, which has no official diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed. The Israeli prime minister's office has said that the situation is "under control" and that all measures are being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on the Flydubai flight?

A violent incident occurred between the pilots, with reports of a stabbing, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia.

Is everyone on board safe?

Yes, all passengers are accounted for, and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia, although both pilots were injured and taken to hospital.

What is the current status of the investigation?

Israeli officials are investigating the incident, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the country is treating it as a terror attack.

The incident is still under investigation, and it is unclear what motivated the co-pilot to allegedly stab the captain and try to crash the plane. As the investigation continues, more details are likely to emerge.