Meanwhile, one passenger has said that an off-duty British pilot helped stabilise the Tel Aviv-bound plane and land it
A hero passenger who “broke into the cockpit” and put the attacker “in a chokehold” before controlling the plane said he learnt how to land the jet after watching a TV show.
Mr Netanyahu met Yaniv who he says is a “great hero”. Yaniv said: “I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him – first and foremost – outside.” He says he then pulled at the controls.
Yaniv revealed he knew how to control the plane after watching a TV show on major aviation disasters, Air Crash Investigation.
The FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was allegedly hijacked after the co-pilot was stabbed by his colleague.
FlyDubai flight FZ1073 issued an emergency hijacking alert shortly after 6.30am BST Wednesday. Mr Netanyahu alleged one of the pilots “stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane”.
The wounded pilot who has been named as Indian national Smit Machchhar, is said to have opened the cockpit door so passengers and crew could stop the attacker.
Mr Netanyahu said: “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery.”
Two other passengers, who were on board ahead of connection flight from Tel Aviv, reportedly helped take control of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and land it. Passenger Almog Itali said one of them was a British pilot and that they “entered (the cockpit) and pulled the aircraft up, pulled the yoke, stabilised the plane and landed us in Saudi Arabia”.
Israeli security services believe there may have been a plan to crash the aircraft into a city in a “9/11 scenario”.
Have you been involved in the FlyDubai incident? If so, please get in touch and share your story by emailing livenews@reachplc.com
Key Events
Heroes ‘stopped a global disaster’
Netanyahu has claimed the heroes on board the plane stopped a global disaster from happening.
The Israeli Prime Minister said: “They stopped a disaster that could have been global.”
Netanyahu recalled how the seriously injured Indian captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing Chayon to enter, pull the attacker away from the control and lift the plane’s control stick.
He called the actions of other passengers and crew members that then helped restrain the attacker “tremendous courage that prevented another 9/11.”
Child on board plane said they “flew to the ceiling”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described some of the terrifying moments onboard the Israel-bound Flydubai flight including how children “flew to the ceiling.”
Recalling his conversation with the hero’s family about the harrowing experience he said: “I asked the children, ‘What happened when the plane was nosediving?’ and the kid said, ‘We flew to the ceiling.'”
“People were already saying their prayers. They thought they were going to all crash and die.
“And they were saved — saved by heroes.”
FlyDubai passenger’s haunting thoughts as horror knife attack unfolded
A passenger on board the allegedly hijacked FlyDubai flight has relived the moment she closed her eyes and prayed as the horror attack unfolded.
The drop left passengers panicked and passenger Naama Bershadski recalled thinking “We’re going to die,” as she closed her eyes and prayed.
Mid-air drop felt like ‘rollercoaster ride’
A passenger has compared the dramatic mid air drop to a rollercoaster.
Almog Itali recalled the rapid fall to BBC.
He said: “Suddenly the aeroplane started to, like a rollercoaster, to drop down like a massive G-force.
“It was falling down for 20 or 30 seconds rapidly” before it started to stabilise again.
He added when the plane started to fall again, he saw people “rushing to the cockpit”.
“Apparently one of the pilots stopped the other one and a couple of passengers and crew members took over and knocked it down.”
“Just three or four passengers that took over the pilot were injured, so you probably saw their faces, but the other passengers didn’t have any injuries and even the three or four people that are very brave and took over, they have very surface injuries, not major injuries.
“They are very brave, they literally saved our lives.”
Trump brands Israeli plumber as ‘amazing’
Trump has branded the hero plumber who helped land the plane ‘amazing’.
He said: “An Israeli plumber saw what was happening and was strong. You know, when you lift pipe all day, you’re strong. And he saw what was going on and he heard the screaming.
“He grabbed the stick, pulled it up, leveled out the plane before it crashed.
“Pretty incredible.”
He added that the fact he learned about flying through watching the “crazy show” is “incredible”.
Timeline of the flight
A timeline of events shows what happened to the flight in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind UK time.
It shows the plane’s “squawk”, which was changed, to help air traffic control identify the issue.
Timeline of events:
Hero passenger learned how to land plane from TV show
Yaniv Hayoun was one of the passengers labelled a “hero” by Israeli Prime Minister after he overpowered the knifeman who allegedly stabbed the pilot of the plane.
He revealed that he had learned how to land the jet after watching a TV show, Air Crash Investigation.
Yaniv told Benjamin Netanyahu: “We pinned him down to keep him secure and then I jumped into it (the cockpit) and pulled the controls.”
Netanyahu asked how he knew to pull in a backwards motion, to which Yaniv said: “I watch Air Crash Investigations Mr Prime Minister.”
Celebratory scenes after passengers land
After passengers landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport earlier there were celebratory scenes as large crowds greeted them.
Many were waving Israeli flags and cheering as the returning passengers exited the terminal.
‘We thought we were going to die, 100 per cent’
Israeli dentist Musaev Shota, who said he helped save Mr Machchhar’s life, described the terror inside the Boeing 737 MAX as it rapidly lost altitude.
The doctor told Y Net News: “We thought we were going to die, 100 per cent. The plane lost an insane amount of altitude in half a minute.”
Besides claiming to have helped save the pilot’s life, Mr Shota also says he was one of the passengers who helped restrain the attacker after he was pulled out of the cockpit.
He said: “At that moment you don’t think, you just act. There were four of us who took control of the whole situation, and if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t be talking to you now.”
Mr Shota said two other pilots who were on the plane then went into the cockpit and took control of the aircraft, which is when he and other passengers “understood that we had survived”.
Trump says Netanyahu told him hero plumber ‘levelled out the plane’
US President Donald Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu had told him one of the heroes on board was an Israeli plumber who “took the stick and levelled out the plane”.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said: “He’s strong. You know, when you lift pipe all day, you’re strong. And he saw what was going on.
“He heard the screaming. He was toward the front where you had security in the back.
“Having never flown a plane, he took the stick, lifted it up and levelled out the plane before it crashed. Now, this is the story that I heard. I don’t know if it’s true. But that’s the story that I got from Bibi [Netanyahu].”
On board dentist says he helped save pilot’s life
Musaev Shota – an Israeli dentist – was also on board FlyDubai flight FZ1073 and says he helped save the pilot’s life.
Mr Shota said he is one of the passengers who rushed to the cockpit to restrain the attacker, who stabbed one of the pilots and allegedly tried to crash the aircraft.
He told Y Net News: “He was thrashing around, so we tied him several times, both his legs and his hands.
“He kept struggling, so we tied him tighter. Then he calmed down and understood that he was in our hands.”
Mr Shota said pilot Smit Machchhar was “in very bad shape” when he reached him, “with heavy bleeding from his head and hands”.
He said: “I was the only doctor on the plane. I managed to stop the bleeding, and the pilot was fairly stable until shortly before landing, when his condition deteriorated somewhat.”
Mr Shota added that Mr Machchhar told him and other passengers that he is 39 years old and has two children.
Netanyahu meets hero passenger – in pictures
Passenger Yaniv Hayun was greeted by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after finally landing safely at Ben Gurion Airport.
Mr Hayun told Netanyahu about how he burst into the cockpit after hearing shouting, eventually pulling the attacker out and even pulling the controls of the aircraft – something he had knowledge of after watching an aviation show.
Netanyahu described Mr Hayun as a “true hero”.
‘Hero’ pilot praised for ‘extraordinary act of courage’ as new picture released
Israel Foreign Ministry has also issued a message for Smit Machchhar, the pilot of flight 1073, praising him and all others involved in tackling the attacker.
The ministry also released a new picture of the pilot, who is now stable in a hospital in Saudi Arabia after he was stabbed by the assailant.
The statement reads: “This man is a hero. Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain of flydubai Flight 1073, fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit.
“Despite being severely injured, he managed to unlock the cockpit door – allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save all the passengers.
“Together, their extraordinary courage saved 174 lives. Indian. Israeli. Emirati. Different nationalities. One extraordinary act of courage.
“We wish Captain Machchhar a full and speedy recovery.”
This man is a hero.Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain of flydubai Flight 1073, fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit.Despite being severely injured, he managed to unlock the cockpit door – allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save… pic.twitter.com/x4W3mtQkag
Israel investigating whether attacker wanted to ‘crash plane into Israeli territory’
Israel is reportedly investigating whether the attacker on board FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was intending to take control of the plane while it was over Jordan and then crash it into Israeli territory, Israeli news outlet N12 reports.
One passenger on board, Almog Itali, explained how the flight was operating as normal until it reached the Jordanian border.
Plane dropped ‘very sharply’
Almog Itali was one of the passengers on flight FZ1073, saying the plane dropped “very sharply” and telling reporters “it’s been a long day”.
He said: “We didn’t get any alerts and we tried to buckle up and it balanced after 20 to 30 seconds then started dropping and balancing again.”
Speaking to the media after finally landing in Israel, he said: “Luckily for us, it’s ended safe and sound.
“We’re very happy to be here, to come back, it was quite a crazy day.”
Mr Itali explained the flight was operating as normal until the aircraft reached the Jordanian border.
FlyDubai full statement after airline’s Israel flights suspended
A full statement issued by FlyDubai reads: “Following the incident involving flight FZ 1073 on 30 September, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, FlyDubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues.
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority. This temporary suspension will allow the relevant authorities to continue their work and establish all the facts surrounding the incident.
“We are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and maintaining the highest safety standards across our network.
“We remain in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders and will review the suspension as more information becomes available.
“We apologise to passengers whose travel plans have been affected and are working to provide support and alternative arrangements where possible.”
Israel suspends FlyDubai flights
Israel has suspended FlyDubai’s flights to and from the country for six days.
The directive came from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, with the decision reached in coordination with UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.
The airline operates 10 flights to Israel every day but services are now suspended as investigations are carried out following today’s serious incident. This could be extended depending on the findings of the investigation.
Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev earlier today called for all FlyDubai flights to and from the country to be suspended.
Israel to ‘increase security checks on pilots flying into country’
Israel will increase security checks on international pilots flying into the country, a spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has reportedly said.
“Every pilot that is going to be flying into Israel, we are going to know the pilots’ identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check,” said Doron Spielman.
He says Mr Netanyahu has instructed authorities to “ramp up security” on any flight in which “an Israeli is going to be flying into Israel”.
Indian embassy says wounded pilot ‘stable’
The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia says the pilot who was wounded on the FlyDubai jet is “stable” in hospital.
They have also confirmed his identity as Smit Machchhar.
The embassy described Machchhar as the “brave Indian pilot”, joining in the praise for his courage in resisting the alleged attacker.
Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have been following the health condition of Mr Smit Machchhar, the brave Indian pilot of Flydubai flight that was diverted to Tabuk today. He is admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary…
Netanyahu also names ‘true hero’ pilot who ‘prevented catastrophic mid-air disaster’
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised one of the pilots on FlyDubai flight FZ1073, describing him as a “true hero”.
He said: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.
“I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero.”
My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air…
Multiple crew members injured
A number of crew members on board flight FZ1073 were injured in today’s incident.
Emirates News Agency Wam reports that “the incident resulted in injuries to some of the aircraft crew”.
The workers were taken to hospital to receive treatment for their wounds in Saudi Arabia.
Ed Miliband ‘deeply concerned’ about plane incident
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he is “very relieved” that the plane eventually landed safely.
In a message on X posted this evening, he wrote: “Deeply concerned about the incident that occurred on the Flydubai flight to Israel and very relieved that the plane landed safely thanks to the actions of those on board.
“All of my thoughts are with those injured in the attack and all those on the plane, as well as their families.”
Deeply concerned about the incident that occurred on the Flydubai flight to Israel and very relieved that the plane landed safely thanks to the actions of those on board.All of my thoughts are with those injured in the attack and all those on the plane, as well as their…
Attacker ‘tied with zip ties and headphones’
Zvika Meness is another passenger who said he helped tackle the alleged cockpit attacker, telling Israeli media the assailant was “tied up with zip ties and headphones”.
Mr Meness explained that a pilot who was in the passenger cabin entered the cockpit after hearing shouting.
He said: “Then we saw stabbings and they were thrown out. It was a very difficult incident. Three of us jumped in and neutralised him. Another pilot who was sitting in the passenger cabin went in to replace the additional pilot, and they essentially landed the plane.”
Mr Meness said “three of us jumped” on the attacker “forcefully” before they tied him up with “his own zip ties” and headphones. “That is how we neutralised him,” he said.
‘True hero’ passenger ‘pulled controls’ of plane after pulling attacker out of cockpit
One of the passengers, a man called Yoniv, has been labelled as a “true hero” by Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli PM posted a video of him meeting Yoniv, asking the passenger if the blood on his T-shirt was that of the attacker.
He replied: “It’s from him, yes.” Netanyahu then tells Yoniv that “it’s simply unbelievable what you did”.
The passenger then told the Prime Minister about how he broke through the door, saying he struggled at first as the stabbed pilot was too close to the door.
He manage to open it, however, before the stabbed pilot “collapsed”, revealing the attacker “on the instruments, between the two seats”.
Yoniv explained he then “grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold and pulled him outside”.
The passenger said the attacker was “trying to destroy the instruments in order to disable the plane”.
Yoniv was then helped by other passengers to “pin down and keep the attacker secure” before he “pulled the controls [of the aircraft]”.
Surprised, Netanyahu asked: “You pulled the controls?”
Yoniv replied: “I watch Air Crash Investigation, Mr Prime Minister. The plane started to level out a bit more and then the pilot told me he was taking control from there.”
יניב, אתה גיבור אמיתי. אנחנו עם של אריות! pic.twitter.com/55AgmAvzIG
Suspected hijacking ‘thought to be 9/11 scenario’
Today’s suspected hijacking could have been part of a 9/11-style plot to crash the FlyDubai plane into a tower block in the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv, Israeli security sources have told The Telegraph.
A source told said that Israeli security services believe one of the pilots onboard flight FZ1073 may have planned to crash the aircraft in an Israeli city.
The incident is “thought to be a 9/11 scenario” where one pilot kills the other and crashes the plane, the source added.
Passengers’ relief after landing
In pictures: Passengers arrive at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv
Passengers have been pictured arriving at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, after what many have described as a “terrifying” ordeal.
As they walked out of the airport, one passenger was seen raising his arms in relief, while others looked visibly shaken.
One woman was pictured making thumbs-up gestures with both hands as she got into a taxi.
‘Thank God I am alive,’ says passenger on board FlyDubai plane
We’re now hearing accounts of the incident from passengers who have just landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on a replacement flight.
One passenger on board the FlyDubai plane described the moment the aircraft descended rapidly as “very, very terrifying”.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, the man said he was sitting next to his wife and young son when he felt the plane drop by “about 6km”.
He said he believed he was going to “lose my family”, adding: “Thank God I am alive.”
‘Hero’ pilot stabbed by alleged attacker is named by Indian media
A pilot stabbed during the incident on today’s FlyDubai flight has been named by Indian media outlets as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national.
Machchhar has been praised for reportedly fighting back against the alleged attacker and alerting the crew and passengers to what was happening.
He describes himself on LinkedIn as an airline captain with more than 13 years of commercial Boeing 737 experience and 9,750 flying hours.
Machchhar’s condition remains unclear. Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Airport earlier said both pilots had been hospitalised after sustaining injuries.
EU aviation agency gathering ‘additional information’ on incident
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said it is gathering “additional information” from FlyDubai and the UAE’s aviation authority on today’s incident.
Separately, the agency today issued an advisory to airlines over Saudi airspace following an increase in Houthi attacks. The latest advisory on Saudi Arabia does not mention the FlyDubai aircraft that was diverted to the country today.
The advisory states: “As a consequence of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with significant kinetic military activity affecting Saudi airspace.”
In a separate bulletin, EASA recommends that airlines avoid operating in Jordanian airspace at all altitudes and flight levels.
EU aviation agency gathering ‘additional information’ on incident
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said it is gathering “additional information” from FlyDubai and the UAE’s aviation authority on today’s incident.
Separately, the agency today issued an advisory to airlines over Saudi airspace following an increase in Houthi attacks. The latest advisory on Saudi Arabia does not mention the FlyDubai aircraft that was diverted to the country today.
The advisory states: “As a consequence of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with significant kinetic military activity affecting Saudi airspace.”
In a separate bulletin, EASA recommends that airlines avoid operating in Jordanian airspace at all altitudes and flight levels.
Replacement flight lands at Ben Gurion Airport
The replacement flight carrying passengers from the FlyDubai plane that was diverted to Saudi Arabia has now landed in Israel.
According to flight-tracking data, the plane touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv about 20 minutes ago.
US ambassador to Israel says incident could have been ‘horrific’
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the incident could have been “horrific”, but noted that everyone was safe.
“Details still unclear but Israelis on board helped subdue the copilot who apparently tried to take over the plane. Could have been a horrific incident but everyone safe,” he wrote in a post on X.
Saudi airport confirms all passengers have left country
Tabuk Airport has confirmed that all passengers on board the diverted FlyDubai plane have left Saudi Arabia on a replacement flight.
Ambulances have been pictured waiting at Ben Gurion Airport, south-east of Tel Aviv, ahead of the passengers’ arrival.
‘British pilot was one of two pilots who landed FlyDubai plane’
One passenger on board the FlyDubai plane told reporters that two pilots who were due to operate a subsequent connection were in the back of the aircraft and landed it, according to the BBC.
Almog Itali described them as “relief pilots” and said one was British and the other was European.
He said that while the exact details, including what happened in the cockpit, remain unclear, “what is clear is that there were two pilots in the front – one stabbed the other”.
He said the two pilots at the back of the plane stabilised the aircraft before landing it in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers are said to have rushed into the cockpit as chaos erupted on board
A passenger plane plunged 14,000ft in just 29 seconds after a fight reportedly broke out between two pilots.
The terrifying incident unfolded on a FlyDubai flight carrying around 150 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with passengers said to have rushed into the cockpit as chaos erupted on board. An emergency hijacking code was triggered following fears one of the pilots was trying to take control of the aircraft and crash it in a suspected terror attack.
One pilot was reportedly stabbed during the ordeal and the pilot who carried out the stabbing has been arrested. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Saudi Arabia, while the accused pilot is reportedly being questioned over the incident.
Video: Passengers can be heard screaming as plane descends rapidly
In footage circulating widely online, including on Israeli media outlets, passengers can be heard screaming as the FlyDubai plane makes a rapid descent.
Shocking footage from inside a Flydubai aircraft shows a pilot with a stab wound and a terrorism suspect lying on the floor.The incident occurred this morning (September 30, 2026) aboard a Flydubai flight (FZ1073) traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Footage recorded by terrified… pic.twitter.com/vkDcMHV6ZG
‘There were terrible screams from kids who didn’t want to die,’ passenger tells Israeli outlet
An Israeli passenger on the FlyDubai flight told The Jerusalem Post that he helped the two additional pilots get to the front of the aircraft when the plane was “diving”.
“There were terrible screams from children who didn’t want to die,” he told the outlet.
He said Israeli passengers pulled the alleged attacker out of the cockpit and helped the other pilots get inside. He added that passengers used “charging cables” to restrain the alleged attacker.
After the plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, doctors tended to children and panicked passengers. The man told the outlet the medical staff were “very nice” and “very understanding”.
‘Altercation occurred in flight deck,’ says FlyDubai
Flydubai has now issued a new statement regarding today’s incident saying “an altercation occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ1073”.
The flight was operating between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).
The statement reads: “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.
The incident has “no impact” on other scheduled flydubai services, the airline added.
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.”
Israeli defence minister claims incident was attempted ‘terror attack’
Israel Katz has claimed the incident on the FlyDubai plane today was an “attempted jihadist terror attack”.
The Israeli defence minister said in a statement that the alleged attack was “thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, overpowered the terrorist and, with their own hands, restored control of the plane to another flight crew who was present there”.
He claimed the alleged attacker “had one intention: to crash the plane with all its passengers”.
‘You have a heroic dad’: Passenger films message to children
A passenger who helped overpower an attacker onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 recorded a video message for his children following the incident.
Yitzhak Lieber described how he and other passengers intervened after one of the pilots was reportedly stabbed during the flight.
In the video sent to his children, he said: “The pilot was seriously injured. We overpowered the terrorist and he is tied up. It was a very difficult incident. You have a heroic dad.”
Lieber also described how passengers rushed to help, saying: “We just jumped in, and a few of us got them out of the cockpit. Everything is fine now.”
Yitzhak Lieber, one of the passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot, sent this video to his children from the plane:“The pilot was seriously injured. We overpowered the terrorist and he is tied up. It was a very difficult incident. You have a heroic dad.”Unbelievable… pic.twitter.com/5pUlF4W3jz
Pilot ‘tried to sabotage aircraft’s systems’
A pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage the systems of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 during the mid-air emergency, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
Netanyahu said he had spoken to a passenger who managed to enter the cockpit alongside a crew member and overpower the alleged attacker.
He said the pilot was attempting to “sabotage the aircraft’s systems” as the pair intervened.
According to Netanyahu, another member of the aircrew then entered the cockpit and managed to stabilise the plane.
Pilot arrested, Netanyahu says
A pilot has been arrested following the alleged attack onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said the incident began when one of the pilots “stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane”.
He said a passenger and crew member managed to enter the cockpit and overpower the alleged attacker, while another crew member helped stabilise the aircraft.
Netanyahu added that the suspected attacker was in custody and being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Passengers ‘uncomfortable’ boarding FlyDubai rescue plane
Some passengers stranded in Saudi Arabia are reportedly reluctant to board a replacement FlyDubai aircraft following the mid-air emergency.
A passenger told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that the rescue flight had not yet departed Tabuk as some travellers were uncomfortable flying with the same airline.
The passenger said people were debating whether to board the replacement aircraft or wait for an Israeli rescue flight.
He also claimed that no Israeli official had contacted the stranded passengers.
Passenger feared repeat of 9/11 as plane ‘plunged’
A passenger onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 has described fearing a repeat of the 9/11 terror attacks as the aircraft reportedly plunged towards the ground.
Daniel told Israeli media he believed the incident was a terrorist attack, recalling how three Israeli passengers attempted to overpower the alleged attacker.
He 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.”
Saudi Arabia ‘refuses’ Israeli permission to collect passengers
Saudi Arabia has reportedly refused to allow Israeli aircraft to collect passengers stranded following the emergency landing of FlyDubai flight FZ1073.
An Israeli official told CNN that Saudi authorities would not permit Israeli planes to enter the country to bring the passengers home.
Israel had earlier been considering sending either a military or civilian aircraft to Saudi Arabia following the diversion of the Dubai to Tel Aviv flight.
Israeli minister calls for FlyDubai flights to be suspended
Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev has called for all FlyDubai flights to and from the country to be suspended following the incident onboard flight FZ1073.
Regev has asked Israel’s Shin Bet security agency to halt the airline’s operations pending an investigation, a transport ministry source told The Jerusalem Post. The request follows reports that one of the pilots allegedly involved in the incident was an Omani national.
According to the newspaper, FlyDubai’s agreement to operate in Israel requires its pilots to come from countries that have normalised diplomatic relations with Israel, which does not include Oman.
“This is a clear breach of the agreement,” the ministry source said, adding that Shin Bet must investigate the matter.
Map shows flight’s dramatic diversion after ‘hijack’ alert
A new graphic shows the route taken by FlyDubai flight FZ1073 after it issued emergency codes while travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The map, created using Flightradar24 data, shows the aircraft departing Dubai at 3.05am GMT before transmitting a general emergency code at 5.31am.
Just seven minutes later, at 5.38am, the plane issued code 7500, associated with a possible hijacking.
The aircraft subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
Passengers pictured queuing at FlyDubai counters in Tel Aviv
New pictures show passengers queuing at FlyDubai counters at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
The images were taken on the same day flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a reported altercation onboard.
What has been confirmed about the pilots’ injuries?
Both pilots onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 were taken to hospital following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The company operating Tabuk airport confirmed that the captain and first officer sustained injuries, although it did not explain how they were hurt.
Several passengers have described seeing blood onboard, with some claiming that one of the pilots was stabbed during the incident.
However, the circumstances surrounding the injuries have not been officially confirmed.
Pilot involved in FlyDubai incident reportedly Omani
One of the pilots onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was an Omani national, according to two Israeli officials who spoke to CNN.
One of the officials alleged that the Omani pilot was responsible for the incident onboard the aircraft.
Israeli journalist Hillel Biton Rosen has since claimed on Telegram that the pilot who caused the aircraft’s reported steep descent was Omani, while the other pilot was from the United Arab Emirates.
Oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, and it remains unclear how the pilot would have obtained clearance to operate a flight to Tel Aviv.
Two FlyDubai planes seen heading to Tabuk
Flight radar shows two FlyDubai 737s heading to Tabuk.
The airline has arranged replacement flights for passengers left stranded in Saudi Arabia.
‘Axe’ potentially involved
Reports now suggest one of the pilots may have boarded the plane with some form of axe.
Second FlyDubai flight lands safely in Tel Aviv
FlyDubai flight FZ1081 appears to have landed safely in Tel Aviv after earlier flight tracking data suggested it had been diverted.
The aircraft had initially appeared to be returning to Dubai, but subsequent tracking information showed it continuing towards Israel.
The latest information suggests the flight has now reached its intended destination, with no confirmed emergency involving the aircraft.
British pilot among two who ‘stabilised plane’, passenger says
A British pilot was reportedly among two additional pilots who helped bring FlyDubai flight FZ1073 under control.
A passenger told the BBC that two pilots who were due to operate the aircraft’s next flight stepped in after the alleged stabbing.
He said: “There were two spare pilots who were supposed to operate the next flight. One of them was European and one of them was British. They entered, pulled the aircraft up, pulled the yoke, stabilised the plane and landed us in Saudi Arabia.”
The passenger said there were conflicting accounts of how the cockpit door was opened, with some suggesting a crew member allowed help inside and others claiming it was forced open.
He added: “I spoke with several people who were in the cockpit and there were quite a few versions of what happened.”
Two crew members seen covered in blood near cockpit
Dramatic footage reportedly filmed onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 shows two crew members covered in blood near the cockpit.
In the video, passengers can be seen tending to one crew member lying on the floor outside the cockpit.
A second crew member is seen beside him, also covered in blood and appearing to be unconscious.
The circumstances surrounding their injuries have not yet been officially confirmed.
Two FlyDubai planes now heading to Saudi Arabia
Two FlyDubai aircraft are now heading towards Tabuk in Saudi Arabia following the emergency involving flight FZ1073.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 said on X that two Boeing 737s, operating as flights FDB8455 and FDB8635, were en route to the city.
The development comes after Flightradar24 earlier reported that a recovery flight was being sent to collect passengers stranded.
A pair of flydubai 737s now en route to Tabuk. https://t.co/kzhjefmNVh & https://t.co/GrhDdr1Ei1 https://t.co/D5neSYCwse pic.twitter.com/nqHhyu0qVm
Screams heard in video showing terrifying moments onboard
Footage circulating on X, said to have been filmed onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073, captures passengers screaming and crying during the mid-air emergency.
The footage has not yet been independently verified.
La violenta caída del avión de Flydubai antes de recuperar altitud. https://t.co/Z7zhXRSWEz
Incident being treated as ‘terrorist act’ in Israel
The emergency involving FlyDubai flight FZ1073 is being treated in Israel as a terrorist act, according to Channel 12’s Amit Segal.
Segal said it appeared that one of the pilots had repeatedly stabbed the other during the mid-air incident.
He added: “Crew members and numerous passengers managed to breach the cockpit door and subdue the attacker.”
Second FlyDubai flight diverted from Tel Aviv
A second FlyDubai flight heading to Tel Aviv has reportedly been diverted.
According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, flight FZ1081 is now returning to Dubai instead of continuing to its intended destination in Israel.
The reason for the diversion has not yet been confirmed, and there is no indication it is directly linked to the earlier emergency involving flight FZ1073.
Both pilots taken to hospital
Both pilots onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 sustained injuries and were taken to hospital following the mid-air emergency, according to the company that operates Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the airport operator confirmed that both the captain and first officer were injured, although it did not specify how they sustained their injuries.
The airport’s air traffic control centre received a distress call from the aircraft at 8.44am local time, during which the crew requested an emergency landing.
The plane landed safely around an hour later, the statement added.
Cockpit altercations are rare but have happened before
Fights between airline pilots are uncommon, but similar incidents have occurred in the past.
In June 2022, two Air France pilots were involved in an altercation in the cockpit of an Airbus A320 travelling from Geneva to Paris, according to CNN.
The pilots exchanged “inappropriate gestures” and were subsequently suspended by the airline.
An Air France spokesperson said at the time: “The incident was quickly resolved without affecting the conduct or safety of the flight, which continued normally.”
What we know so far about FlyDubai flight emergency
A FlyDubai passenger plane travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a reported altercation between pilots.
Here are the key developments so far:
What happens when a plane issues a hijacking code?
Aircraft transmitting emergency code 7500 can trigger an immediate security response as the signal is associated with a possible hijacking or unlawful interference.
Under US aviation procedures, air traffic controllers are instructed to ask pilots to verify that they have transmitted the code.
If the crew confirms the alert or fails to respond, controllers must treat the situation as a suspected hijacking and notify the relevant authorities.
However, transmitting code 7500 does not, on its own, establish that a hijacking has taken place.
Passengers pictured arriving at Ben Gurion Airport
New pictures show passengers passing through the arrivals area at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 30.
The images were taken on the same day FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following an incident onboard.
Recovery flight ‘en route’ to collect passengers
A recovery flight is reportedly heading to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia to collect passengers from FlyDubai flight FZ1073 and take them to Tel Aviv.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said on X that the aircraft was “now en route” to pick up those affected by the earlier emergency.
FlyDubai previously confirmed that all passengers were safe following the emergency landing.
A recovery flight is now en route to Tabuk to pick up passengers from flight #FZ1073 and take them to Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/wknZKhKTGn
Israel’s history of aircraft hijackings
The emergency alert involving FlyDubai flight FZ1073 initially raised fears of a possible hijacking, prompting Israeli fighter jets to be scrambled.
Israel has not experienced an aircraft hijacking in decades, according to the Associated Press, but Israelis were targeted in a series of hijackings and attacks on aircraft during the 1960s and 1970s.
The country maintains strict aviation security measures, including extensive checks for passengers travelling on Israel-bound flights.
Flight FZ1073 transmitted emergency code 7500, which is used to signal possible unlawful interference with an aircraft.
Passengers ‘forced attacker out of cockpit’
Passengers reportedly intervened during the terrifying incident onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073, helping remove the alleged attacker from the cockpit.
An Israeli passenger told The Jerusalem Post that people seated near the front of the aircraft rushed towards the cockpit after one pilot allegedly stabbed another.
The passenger claimed two other pilots were onboard but initially appeared shocked by what was happening.
“I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane,” the passenger said.
According to the account, passengers managed to remove the alleged attacker from the cockpit, allowing the other pilots to enter and one to take control of the aircraft.
Growing confidence flight incident was ‘terrorism’
There is reportedly growing confidence that the incident onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 was an act of terrorism.
News100 reports the assessment followed discussions between the heads of Israel’s military, known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and its intelligence agencies Shin Bet and Mossad.
The assessment comes amid allegations that one of the pilots attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it with passengers onboard.
Flight map shows dramatic change of direction
A flight-tracking map shows the route taken by FlyDubai flight FZ1073 before it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft can be seen travelling from Dubai across Saudi Arabia towards Israel before changing direction in the northwest of the country, near the Jordanian border.
The plane later landed safely in Tabuk, where FlyDubai confirmed all passengers were safe and accounted for.
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
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