A stabbing accident in the cockpit of a Fly Dubai flight and its emergency landing in Tabuk

Moments of terror were experienced by the passengers of a Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv after a sudden accident in the cockpit that coincided with the plane losing altitude sharply, before it succeeded in making an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport amid ongoing investigations to find out the truth about what happened.

What happened?

A Flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a violent incident in the cockpit. According to the Israeli government, the pilot allegedly stabbed his colleague with a knife. Flightradar24 reported that the plane lost about 4,900 meters of altitude in about one minute.

Various videos posted on social media showed people, some of them covered in blood, and horrific scenes during the landing. An Israeli woman told N12 TV that the passengers were terrified and heard “screaming.” In one video, passengers were asked via loudspeaker to remain in their seats.

What happened in the cockpit?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that one of the plane's pilots stabbed the other in the cockpit and apparently tried to shoot down the plane, which was carrying Israelis.

One of the passengers told Netanyahu in a phone call how he and a crew member stormed the cockpit, and together they were able to control the attacker as he tried to damage the equipment on board the plane. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Israeli security forces and air force security personnel were among the passengers who intervened.

Flydubai Airlines reported that a second crew who was traveling in the cabin took control of the plane. Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had occurred in the cockpit of flight FZ1073, but did not provide further details. It was previously reported that the plane initially sent code 7700, which indicates an emergency, and then code 7500, which is used to report a hijacking.

As for the condition of the crew and passengers, Tabuk Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing, reported that the pilot and his co-pilot were taken to the hospital with injuries. There is no information yet available about any other injured people.

According to Israeli media, there were 174 passengers on board, including 27 children. In the evening, the passengers were transported safely to Tel Aviv Airport on an alternative plane, where they were warmly received by their families.

Flydubai confirmed the safety of all passengers and crew members. Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the arrest of the attacker, and that he is currently being interrogated by the Saudi security authorities.

What are the details of the accident?

A statement issued by the state-owned UAE airline said that the background and motives of the accident remain unclear. Flydubai called on everyone to be patient with speculation until the investigation is completed.

According to Israeli assessments, the suspected attacker is believed to have acted alone, as reported by Kan TV. There are no indications that a state or terrorist organization is behind the incident, according to security sources.

What does the Israeli government say?

Defense Minister Yisrael Katz spoke of an “attempted jihadist attack” that was thwarted thanks to the courage of the Israeli passengers. Government officials from the region reported that Israel had sent fighter jets in anticipation of an attempted hijacking of the plane. Netanyahu said that he had instructed the Israeli security forces to "prepare for any other potential threats," without going into further details.

Ahead of the anniversary of the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, the Israeli Prime Minister recently warned of security threats. He also expressed his deep appreciation "to the heroes who showed exceptional composure and courage." Netanyahu added: “They saved many lives and prevented a major catastrophe.”

Flydubai has suspended all its flights to and from Israel until further notice. The company announced that the flights would be suspended until the investigation was completed. Saudi Arabia also announced the opening of an investigation.

What is the importance of this air route?

The United Arab Emirates recognized Israel in 2020 within the framework of what was known as the Abraham Accords, sponsored by the United States of America. Since then, the two countries have strengthened their cooperation, especially in the areas of business and defence. Dubai has become a favorite tourist destination for Israelis in recent years.

However, the direct replacement flight from Saudi Arabia, which took passengers to Tel Aviv in the evening, is a rare case: the Kingdom and Israel do not yet have diplomatic relations.

According to media reports, the two countries are secretly cooperating in some areas. Normalization of relations has been the subject of diplomatic efforts for years, but has become increasingly unlikely since the Gaza war.

Although investigations into the circumstances and motives of the accident are continuing, the incident has brought back to the forefront the discussion regarding safety and security procedures in the civil aviation sector and mechanisms for dealing with emergency situations inside the cockpit.

It also highlighted the importance of coordination between aviation authorities and competent authorities in the relevant countries to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members during air crises. Until now, the exact circumstances of the accident are still under investigation, while the concerned authorities confirm that the results of the official investigations will be the primary reference for determining what happened and its causes.