Flydubai passenger describes panic after cockpit incident

• A passenger on a Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia described hearing screams from the cockpit during an incident that triggered a hijacking alert.
• The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight landed safely in Tabuk, with all passengers accounted for.
• The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with reports saying the two pilots were involved in a violent altercation.

A passenger aboard a Flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday described hearing screams and seeing blood inside the cockpit after an incident involving the pilots.

“We heard screams, and the pilot opened up, and they showed amounts of blood from someone who simply attacked the pilot and stabbed him in the cockpit,” she said, adding that “the plane then lost control.”

Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it transmitted emergency signals and abruptly changed course, eventually landing safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk.

The aircraft had earlier transmitted the 7500 emergency code, which is used to indicate unlawful interference or a possible hijacking, prompting ‘Israeli’ fighter jets to scramble as authorities initially feared the plane had been hijacked.

Flydubai later confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an incident while en route and landed safely in Tabuk, with all passengers and crew safe and accounted for. The airline said it was working with relevant authorities and had opened an investigation.

Reports from passengers and officials indicated that the incident involved a physical confrontation between the pilots. Reuters reported that ‘Israeli’ officials were also investigating whether the incident could have been an attempted attack, while the precise circumstances remained unclear.

Both the captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital after the aircraft landed, according to the Tabuk airport statement.

'I already started praying'

— interview with one of the FlyDubai passengers

'I can't die, I have to be with my family, I can't do this to my mother' pic.twitter.com/sUj5NeaYtf

— RT (@RT_com) September 30, 2026

Read more: Flydubai flight lands safely in Saudi Arabia after cockpit brawl