New Footage shows Captain Smit Machchhar, bloodied, being carried off a Flydubai aircraft on a stretcher after an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Cockpit Attack
Some of the latest updates on the Flydubai plane attack:
• Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.
• Israeli officials say the Omani co pilot stabb...
Some of the latest updates on the Flydubai plane attack:
• Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.
• Israeli officials say the Omani co pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it, potentially a 9/11 style attack. His affiliation remains under investigation.
• During the incident, the aircraft plunged from roughly 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in under 1 minute.
• The aircraft transmitted code 7700 for a general emergency and later 7500, the international code for unlawful interference or hijacking.
• The wounded captain managed to release the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. Israeli passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and subdued the co pilot.
• A doctor and nurse aboard the flight provided initial medical treatment to the wounded captain.
• Additional Flydubai pilots who were traveling aboard the aircraft took control and safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
• The captain and co pilot were taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
• Israeli fighter jets were scrambled while the incident was unfolding.
• Saudi and Israeli intelligence authorities are investigating.
• Saudi Arabia declined an Israeli request to send Israeli military aircraft to retrieve the passengers, Flydubai instead arranged another aircraft to bring them to Israel. The rescue flight has now landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.
• No passenger required urgent medical treatment after disembarking at Ben Gurion Airport, including 2 passengers who were bleeding, according to Magen David Adom crews stationed beside the aircraft.
• Israeli authorities are expected to question passengers as part of the investigation into what happened aboard FZ1073.
Israelis Treated in Tabuk After Hijack
Israeli passengers from the hijacked flydubai flight being treated by Saudi medics in Tabuk after the emergency landing.
Flydubai Flight Diverted to Tabuk
Flydubai statement on flight FZ 1073, Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport:
A confrontation occurred in the cockpit of the flight. The crew operating the aircraft managed to take control of the situation, divert the plane and ...
Flydubai statement on flight FZ 1073, Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport:
A confrontation occurred in the cockpit of the flight. The crew operating the aircraft managed to take control of the situation, divert the plane and land it safely at the airport in Tabuk. All passengers and crew members are safe.
Two replacement aircraft were sent to Tabuk to accommodate the passengers and crew. The incident has no impact on other scheduled flights across the flydubai network.
At this early stage the reasons and motives behind the incident are not known and remain subject to an official investigation. The airline called on all parties to refrain from early speculation while the authorities gather the facts.
Its immediate priority is the safety, health and wellbeing of all passengers and crew involved, and supporting the official investigation.
Flydubai Flight Hijack Attempt
UPDATE ON FLYDUBAI ATTACK
• the Flydubai flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
• The aircraft transmitted an emergency signal and the 7500 code for unlawful interference or hijacking.
• The flight changed course over Saudi Arabia...
UPDATE ON FLYDUBAI ATTACK
• the Flydubai flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
• The aircraft transmitted an emergency signal and the 7500 code for unlawful interference or hijacking.
• The flight changed course over Saudi Arabia.
• The attacker is reported to be an Omani and the co pilot.
• According to passenger testimony and security assessments cited, the co pilot repeatedly stabbed the captain.
• The co pilot then took control of the aircraft and sent it into a rapid descent of nearly 20,000 feet in just over 1 minute.
• Crew members and passengers forced their way into the cockpit and subdued him.
• Multiple people were reportedly injured during the struggle.
• The captain was described as critically injured.
• The aircraft suffered damage to its flight controls and a wing.
• The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
• Nearly 180 people were aboard.
• Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a suspected terrorist attack.
• The attacker’s motive and any organizational affiliation remain unknown .
• The passengers are awaiting arrangements to return to Israel.
• El Al suspended scheduled UAE flights in March 2026 because of security concerns and had not resumed them.
Flydubai Flight Diverts to Tabuk
FLYDUBAI PLANE ATTACK: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent altercation broke out between the 2 pilots.
The Boeing 737 MAX...
FLYDUBAI PLANE ATTACK: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent altercation broke out between the 2 pilots.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 suddenly plunged thousands of feet before transmitting 7700, the general emergency code, followed by 7500, the code for unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.
Israel scrambled fighter jets as the aircraft diverted toward Saudi Arabia. The plane landed safely in Tabuk, where Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft. All passengers are reported safe.
Some Israeli officials say the incident was NOT a hijacking, but rather a physical confrontation between the pilots. Others reportedly believe the confrontation may have been a deliberate attack, though that has not been confirmed yet.
Several more serious claims are circulating but remain UNVERIFIED:
• Passengers told Israeli media that 1 pilot was stabbed multiple times with a pocketknife and that blood was seen inside the cockpit.
• Other accounts say passengers and cabin crew helped restrain 1 of the pilots.
• Israeli media reported that 1 pilot may have deliberately attempted to send the aircraft into a steep dive before the other pilot fought him for control.
• Claims that Israeli military pilots aboard the flight took control or landed the aircraft have NOT been verified.
What is confirmed: FZ1073 suffered a major cockpit incident, rapidly lost altitude, transmitted both emergency and unlawful interference codes and diverted to Saudi Arabia.
The most likely sequence based on the information available so far is that 1 pilot attacked the other inside the cockpit, with the struggle spilling onto the controls and contributing to the aircraft’s violent altitude swings.
An emergency was then declared, followed by the 7500 unlawful interference code, before the aircraft diverted safely to Saudi Arabia.
That sequence has NOT been officially confirmed. The motive, who entered the 7500 code and whether any part of the aircraft’s initial descent was deliberate remain unknown.
The investigation is ongoing.
Flydubai Flight Diverted to Tabuk
FLYDUBAI PLANE ATTACK: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent altercation broke out between the 2 pilots.
The Boeing 737 MAX...
FLYDUBAI PLANE ATTACK: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent altercation broke out between the 2 pilots.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 suddenly plunged thousands of feet before transmitting 7700, the general emergency code, followed by 7500, the code for unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.
Israel scrambled fighter jets as the aircraft diverted toward Saudi Arabia. The plane landed safely in Tabuk, where Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft. All passengers are reported safe.
Israeli officials say the incident was NOT a hijacking and that the emergency unfolded following a physical fight between the pilots.
Several more serious claims are circulating, but remain UNVERIFIED:
• Passengers told Israeli media that 1 pilot was stabbed multiple times with a pocketknife and that blood was seen inside the cockpit.
• Other accounts say passengers and cabin crew helped restrain 1 of the pilots.
• Israeli media has reported that 1 pilot may have deliberately attempted to send the aircraft into a steep dive before the other pilot fought him for control.
• Claims that Israeli military pilots aboard the flight took control or landed the aircraft are also NOT verified.
What is confirmed: FZ1073 suffered a major cockpit incident, rapidly lost altitude, transmitted both emergency and hijacking codes and diverted to Saudi Arabia.
The most likely sequence, based on what is known so far: 1 pilot attacked the other inside the cockpit, with the struggle spilling onto the controls and sending the aircraft into its violent altitude swings.
An emergency was then declared, followed by the 7500 unlawful interference code, before the aircraft diverted safely to Saudi Arabia.
The investigation is ongoing.
flydubai Flight Diverted to Tabuk
flydubai statement:
"flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route. The aircraft has landed safely in Tabu...
flydubai statement:
"flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route. The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.
Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available."
Saudi Civil Defense Issues Warning
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense has issued a warning of potential danger in Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu and Tabuk.
Waterspout Spotted Off Duba, Saudi Arabia
A waterspout reported off the coast of Duba, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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