TD TABUK, Saudi Arabia — A terrifying midair incident unfolded aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, September 30, after a violent alleged attempted hijack between the pilots reportedly resulted in the captain being stabbed.
The Boeing 737 also made a sudden sharp descent before diverting to Saudi Arabia.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying about 180 passengers, most of them Israelis.
It eventually landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.
The captain and co-pilot were taken for medical treatment, while all passengers were reported safe and accounted for.
Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an “incident while en route” and landed safely in Tabuk.
Pilot allegedly stabbed in the cockpit during “hijack”
According to Israeli officials cited by Reuters, the Omani co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain during a violent alleged hijack attempt in the cockpit.
However, the airline did not initially provide details about what happened inside the cockpit.
The incident reportedly escalated to the point where cabin crew entered the cockpit.
With the assistance from passengers, they subdued the suspected attacker and helped restore control of the aircraft.
Other reports have described the incident as a possible attempted hijacking or attempted act of terror.
In the meantime, though, the precise circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that a “major disaster” had narrowly been avoided.
It said passengers, including Israelis aboard the aircraft, helped crew members restrain the suspected attacker.
Aircraft plunged thousands of feet
Flight-tracking data provided another indication of the seriousness of the attempted hijack.
Reuters reported that the aircraft suddenly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted.
Other reports, based on flight-tracking data, put the total descent at approximately 17,000 feet.
The aircraft subsequently transmitted 7700, the international transponder code indicating a general emergency.
It later transmitted 7500, the code used to indicate an unlawful interference or suspected hijacking situation.
The signals triggered an immediate security response, including the scrambling of Israeli fighter aircraft and an urgent security consultation involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Emergency landing in Tabuk after alleged Hijack
Saudi aviation authorities received a distress call from FZ1073 at approximately 8:44 a.m. local time and declared an emergency at Tabuk Airport.
The aircraft landed safely at about 9:45 a.m. following the alleged hijack, according to the airport operator.
Both pilots were reported injured and taken to hospital, while passengers were assisted inside the terminal.
Authorities began coordinating with Flydubai over arrangements for the passengers and a replacement aircraft.
Israeli officials subsequently indicated that the incident was under control and that arrangements were being made to return the Israeli passengers safely.
A video clip trending online showed the two pilots drenched in blood.
Was it a hijack?
There have been conflicting descriptions of the incident during the initial investigation.
Some Israeli officials described the event as a possible attempted hijack, while an official in the Israeli prime minister’s office said the incident was not believed to be a conventional hijacking.
Reuters reported that authorities were investigating whether the incident could constitute an attempted terror attack.
Reports indicated that Israeli officials were examining whether the pilot had attempted to crash the aircraft and whether the incident was terrorism-related.
The precise sequence of events inside the cockpit, including who initiated the confrontation and the motive behind it, had not been conclusively established as of Wednesday afternoon.
Claims linking incident to Iran sanctions
The reported hijack incident occurred just days after major US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector took effect.
This has prompted speculation online about whether the developments could be connected.
Under Operation Economic Outcast, the US Treasury announced on September 8 that it was sanctioning 27 Iranian airlines and other aviation-related entities.
It warned foreign companies and individuals supporting sanctioned Iranian aviation operations of potential consequences.
The United Arab Emirates subsequently suspended Iranian flights to and from its airports.
Meanwhile, flights involving Iranian carriers were also disrupted in several countries in the region.
The Financial Times reported that the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority cited the US restrictions in announcing the suspension.
However, there is currently no evidence establishing a connection between those sanctions and the Flydubai FZ1073 incident.
The sanctions targeted Iranian airlines and entities accused by Washington of supporting Iran’s aviation sector.
Washington claims that the airlines facilitate the movement of weapons, personnel or other sanctioned activities.
Flydubai is a UAE airline and is not identified in the US Treasury’s September 8 announcement as one of the sanctioned Iranian carriers.
Therefore, any suggestion that the cockpit incident was caused by, retaliatory to, or otherwise connected with the US sanctions remains speculation unless investigators establish such a link.
Investigation continues
The reported hijack incident has raised significant aviation-security questions.
This is because:
- it involved a confrontation between members of the flight crew at altitude,
- a dramatic loss of altitude, and,
- the transmission of an international hijacking code.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia and Israel are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the injured pilots remain central to the inquiry.
For now, the confirmed outcome is that FZ1073 landed safely in Tabuk and all passengers were accounted for.
The more serious allegations remain subjects of investigation or unverified claims.
These include an attempted hijack, an attempted deliberate crash, a terrorism motive and any connection with US sanctions against Iran.
