‘You saved lives’: Netanyahu meets survivors of Flydubai cockpit crisis after safe return to Israel

Jerusalem: A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after one pilot allegedly stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Flight FZ1073, carrying dozens of Israeli passengers, was travelling towards Ben Gurion Airport when an incident in the cockpit triggered an emergency. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

According to Netanyahu, one of the Israeli passengers who helped subdue the attacker told him that the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and intervene.

Netanyahu said the attacker was allegedly attempting to damage the aircraft's systems and crash the plane when passengers managed to overpower him.

“I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster,” Netanyahu said.

The aircraft had issued a distress call before landing in Tabuk. Flight-tracking data indicated that it descended sharply from around 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in approximately a minute before making an erratic turn near the Jordanian border.

The aircraft eventually landed in Tabuk around an hour later.

The captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital, according to a statement from the airport carried by Saudi state television. Passengers also received medical attention after the emergency landing.

Video footage circulating on social media and reviewed by The Associated Press showed two injured men on the aircraft floor while other people appeared to provide medical assistance and guard the cockpit.

Passengers also described scenes of panic during the incident. One passenger's family member said her daughter heard someone shouting for help before the aircraft began losing altitude.

According to Netanyahu, a passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit as the aircraft began its descent. Other crew members then took over flying the aircraft.

The incident initially raised fears of a possible hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets, according to an Israeli official cited by AP. The exact sequence of events inside the cockpit remains under investigation.

Flydubai confirmed that flight FZ1073, travelling to Ben Gurion Airport, had experienced an incident and landed safely in Tabuk.

“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said.

Saudi Arabia's handling of the emergency landing was also significant because the kingdom does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Saudi Arabia ended its longstanding ban on Israeli aircraft overflying its territory in 2022 and has since facilitated emergency landings involving Israeli passengers.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Israel, with the country approaching the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Netanyahu has also warned recently of increased security threats.

Investigators are now examining what happened inside the cockpit, the circumstances surrounding the reported stabbing and the actions that led to the aircraft's rapid descent.

The identities and motives of those involved have not been fully established in the information released so far. The reported attempt to crash the aircraft remains an allegation under investigation.

The FZ1073 incident involved several layers of aviation and security concern. The aircraft issued a distress alert, experienced a sharp descent and diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged confrontation between the pilots.

The reported intervention by passengers and crew became central to the emergency. According to Netanyahu's account, the captain was able to open the cockpit door before collapsing, allowing others to enter and restrain the attacker.

Israel's decision to scramble fighter aircraft reflected the uncertainty surrounding the situation while the aircraft was in distress. The flight's eventual safe landing in Tabuk avoided a potentially more serious outcome.

The investigation will need to establish the exact sequence inside the cockpit, why the aircraft descended so rapidly, who was responsible for the reported attack and whether there was any wider motive or security connection.