A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent incident involving the pilots triggered emergency signals and a dramatic loss of altitude.
Flight FZ1073 was carrying around 150 passengers when the Boeing 737 suddenly dropped thousands of feet during the flight. Tracking data showed the aircraft falling rapidly from cruising altitude before stabilising. The plane also transmitted emergency and possible unlawful-interference signals.
Passengers reported hearing screams and seeing blood after a confrontation in the cockpit. Reports said one pilot was allegedly stabbed, while both pilots were later taken to hospital with injuries. Some passengers and crew members reportedly intervened during the incident.
The emergency prompted Israel to scramble fighter jets as authorities feared a possible hijacking. The aircraft, however, was later diverted and landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, with everyone on board accounted for.
Israeli officials initially said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking. But later, two Israeli officials said they were investigating whether the confrontation could have been an attempted terror attack.
The exact circumstances, motive and sequence of events remain under investigation. Flydubai has confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers and crew were safe.
Authorities are now working to establish what happened inside the cockpit and why the aircraft made its sudden descent before being diverted to Saudi Arabia.
