Pilots fight in cockpit; co-pilot stabs captain, tries to take control

An Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Emirati captain and attempted to take control of a flydubai passenger aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli officials told NDTV.

The violent cockpit confrontation triggered two emergency alerts, including one associated with a possible hijacking.

The captain was a UAE national, while the co-pilot was from Oman, according to the officials. Authorities have also said they have not completely ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.

The incident occurred aboard Flight FZ1073, which eventually landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, a site that serves as both a civilian and military base. Flight-tracking data indicated that the confrontation took place roughly two and a half hours after the aircraft departed Dubai.

Earlier reports in Israeli media claimed that the pilots were originally from Russia and Ukraine. However, Israeli officials subsequently rejected those reports.

According to Israeli media reports, the pilots became involved in a violent struggle, during which one of them allegedly attempted to force the aircraft into a steep descent. The second pilot reportedly intervened and, with assistance from some passengers, managed to regain control of the aircraft. Authorities have not independently confirmed these claims.

Reports from N12 said that one of the pilots lost consciousness during the confrontation. After the aircraft landed, both pilots were reportedly taken off the plane.

Passengers later told Israel’s Channel 12 that they heard shouting toward the front of the aircraft. Some passengers reportedly witnessed the plane suddenly descend before it eventually landed in Saudi Arabia.

CNN, citing Israeli security officials, reported that the aircraft lost approximately 17,400 feet of altitude, dropping from about 34,000 feet to nearly 16,600 feet in just two minutes. The aircraft was flying over Jordan when it initially transmitted emergency code 7700, which indicates a general emergency. The signal was later changed to code 7500, which is associated with a hijacking.

Soon after the landing, photographs showing a passenger wearing a blood-stained shirt circulated on social media.

The CEO of flydubai reportedly informed Israeli transportation officials that another aircraft would be dispatched from Dubai to Saudi Arabia. From there, the passengers would continue their journey to Israel.

A flydubai spokesperson said the airline was cooperating closely with the relevant authorities and would provide further information once verified details became available.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also convened an emergency meeting after reports indicated that around 180 Israeli passengers were aboard the flight. His office said the situation was under control and that arrangements were being made to bring the Israeli passengers safely back to Israel.

flydubai is the low-cost sister airline of Emirates. Since the UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020, the UAE has become a popular destination for Israeli travelers.