By Web Desk
Lahore
A Flydubai commercial airliner en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency diversion to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent altercation broke out inside the cockpit, prompting the aircraft to execute a steep altitude plunge before crew members and passengers intervened.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073, operating a scheduled passenger service between Dubai International Airport and Ben Gurion Airport, had been airborne for approximately two and a half hours when the confrontation unfolded between the flight deck crew members over regional airspace.
Emergency descent and flight deck confrontation
Aviation tracking telemetry indicated that the Boeing 737 aircraft abruptly lost approximately 16,000 feet of altitude within roughly two minutes while transmitting international emergency transponder codes, including code 7700 for general emergencies and code 7500 signifying unlawful interference.
According to official statements and security briefings, a physical struggle occurred when the co-pilot attacked the captain with a sharp object and attempted to manipulate flight control inputs. Cabin crew members and several passengers entered the flight deck to restrain the assailant, enabling the captain to stabilize the aircraft and coordinate an immediate emergency landing protocol with regional air traffic control.
Emergency touchdown in Tabuk and medical response
The aircraft made a safe emergency touchdown at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where emergency medical vehicles, fire crews, and Saudi security personnel met the plane on the tarmac.
Airport authorities confirmed that all passengers on board remained physically uninjured during the ordeal. Both pilots sustained injuries during the struggle and were transported to a local medical facility in Tabuk for urgent surgical and medical treatment.
Detention, diplomatic coordination, and ongoing inquiries
Saudi law enforcement authorities detained the suspected assailant at the airport. Security officials identified the individual as an Omani national serving as a first officer with the carrier.
The United Arab Emirates Prosecutor General announced the formal opening of a comprehensive criminal investigation into the incident, coordinating closely with international civil aviation regulators and Saudi counterparts. Meanwhile, passengers were accommodated in Tabuk before being transferred onto an alternative replacement flight to complete their onward travel to Tel Aviv.
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