flydubai scare: Fresh details have emerged about the dramatic emergency landing of a flydubai flight in Saudi Arabia, with an Indian national identified as the captain who reportedly fought with his co-pilot during a violent cockpit confrontation.
According to Ynet, citing Israeli officials, the co-pilot was an Omani national who was suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft. The captain reportedly confronted him and fought to prevent the aircraft from crashing, while Israeli passengers later helped restrain the co-pilot.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv which transmitted emergency signals before making a sharp descent and diverting to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Flightradar24 showed the aircraft suddenly descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted.
The aircraft initially broadcast squawk code 7700, indicating an emergency, before switching to 7500, which signals a hijacking or unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking data cited by The Times of Israel. The 7500 signal prompted Israeli Air Force fighter jets to scramble towards the aircraft.
The aircraft was carrying around 180 passengers, turned around while flying over Saudi Arabia and was later tracked near Tabuk airport, where it landed safely. Passengers were evacuated after authorities took control of the situation.
According to Tabuk airport authorities cited by Ynet, both pilots were injured and hospitalised. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an in-flight incident and landed safely in Tabuk. The airline said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and that all passengers were safe. It has not released the identities or nationalities of the pilots.
According to Times of Israel citing Channel 12 reported that a second team of pilots, dressed in civilian clothes, carried out the landing. The report said two passengers helped prevent one of the pilots from taking control of the aircraft. An Israeli official told Channel 12: “The most severe disaster was prevented.”
The Israeli military said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held an assessment of the incident with senior officers, including Israeli Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler, Operations Directorate Chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen and Intelligence Directorate Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder.
Israel's Transportation Ministry said a joint investigation with the defence establishment would examine the incident. The episode has also prompted national security consultations in Israel, particularly given that the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia, which does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel.
The incident remains under investigation, and the circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation have not been independently established.