A Dubai-to-Israel passenger flight diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a physical fight broke out between the pilots in the cockpit. This incident triggered multiple mid-air emergency signals and a high-level security response.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 180 passengers, mostly Israeli citizens, when the fight happened over Jordanian airspace. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the Boeing 737 first sent a general emergency signal. It then broadcast a second code a few minutes later, which indicated potential unlawful interference.
The aircraft later reverted to a general emergency signal and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. This heavily used daily route connects Dubai and Tel Aviv, even though Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations.
Emergency Response and Security Scramble
The code indicating unlawful interference, which is usually linked to hijackings, caused an immediate international security response. Israeli Air Force fighter jets scrambled toward the plane as it changed course over northern Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held an urgent security meeting to monitor the situation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the Chief of the General Staff quickly assessed the situation. He worked with the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, the Head of the Operations Directorate, and the Head of Military Intelligence. At the same time, the Israel Police set up a joint command center to prepare for potential threats.
Airline Confirmation and Passenger Accounts
Flydubai later confirmed that the emergency signals happened because of a violent physical fight between the flight crew. Regional media outlets, including Channel 12 News, identified the crew members as a Russian captain and a Ukrainian co-pilot.
Passengers shared terrifying accounts of the flight. One passenger told i24NEWS that the situation in the cockpit became very dangerous. The interior was covered in blood after someone tried to stab the pilot, and Israeli passengers had to step in to help secure the flight deck.
After the safe landing in Tabuk, Flydubai management worked with Israeli transportation authorities. They sent a replacement plane from Dubai to Saudi Arabia to fly the passengers safely to Tel Aviv.
