FLYING Magazine
An altercation between the two pilots of a Flydubai 737 Max 8 passenger jet headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv caused the aircraft to plunge more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds and divert to Tabuk Airport (OETB) in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple media reports. While details are still emerging, Israel’s minister of defense on Wednesday called the incident an “attempted terrorist attack.”
The airplane had more than 100 passengers on board and squawked 7700 and 7500, signalling a general emergency and unlawful interference, respectively, after the sharp loss of altitude. NBC News reported the captain and first officer, both of whom may have been stabbed according to passengers, were transported to a local hospital on Wednesday.
The aircraft appeared to sustain damage to its rudder, photos taken after landing show.
The New York Times said it verified a widely shared video on social media that appears to show two men on the floor bleeding, with one wearing what appears to be a FlyDubai pilot uniform. One person in the video asks for help while others tend to the two apparently injured people.
The Times reported, citing passengers on the flight, that two other pilots on board the airplane managed to take control from the injured pilots and safely land at Tabuk. A FlyDubai spokesperson said Wednesday that the other pilots were crew members who were on duty.
“Flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben-Gurion Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route,” the airline said in a statement. “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.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said arrangements were being made to transport Israeli passengers to Tel Aviv after they refused to board Flydubai-arranged recovery flights.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets after learning of the incident. Per the report, Israel’s defense and intelligence agencies believe the incident was a foiled terrorist attack.
Netayahu in a video statement said one of the two pilots “stabbed the other pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane” and that the “attacking pilot has been arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities.”
This is a developing story.