FlyDubai Flight to Tel Aviv Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Attack
A commercial flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a violent altercation in the cockpit and distress calls, according to airline and security sources.
Emergency Landing in Tabuk Follows Rapid Descent
Flydubai flight FZ 1073 departed Dubai at 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday carrying mostly Israeli passengers. Tracking data cited by ABC News showed the aircraft descended rapidly from 34,000 feet down to 16,000 feet over a three-minute span. Approximately 10 minutes following the initial descent, the plane’s transponder squawk code switched to a general emergency signal, and seven minutes later changed again to indicate unlawful interference or a hijacking.
The aircraft maintained an average altitude of 15,000 feet before landing safely in Tabuk, located in northwestern Saudi Arabia near the Jordanian border. Flydubai confirmed in an official statement that the flight experienced an incident en route and that all passengers are safe and accounted for, though the airline omitted further details regarding the cause.
Cockpit Altercation Prompted Distress Calls and Hospitalization
An Israeli security source confirmed to ABC News that a violent altercation took place inside the cockpit, prompting Israeli authorities to investigate the event as a potential terror incident. Saudi authorities reported receiving a distress call from the flight crew, and confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot were hospitalized upon landing after sustaining injuries onboard.
Passengers aboard the flight recounted hearing sudden screams from the cabin as the chaos unfolded. One passenger speaking with Israeli media described seeing blood after someone allegedly attempted to attack the pilot with a pocketknife, leading to a temporary loss of control over the aircraft.
Official Response and Diplomatic Monitoring
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted to X that Netanyahu held consultations on the matter and is monitoring developments closely. The Prime Minister’s office stated that the situation is under control and that all measures are being deployed to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel. An Israeli security source also confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces recommended dispatching a military aircraft to repatriate the stranded passengers from Saudi Arabia.
As diplomatic and security officials coordinate repatriation efforts, affected travelers and their families deal with severe logistical disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport.