A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia due to an incident involving the pilots aboard. The aircraft was operating as flight FZ1073 and was cruising at about 34,000 feet when it suddenly began to descend. At one point the jet dropped about 17,400 feet in just over two minutes.
Flight FZ1073 landed in Saudi Arabia after a sharp descent and emergency signals as investigators examine what happened between the two pilots.
Flight-tracking systems showed the transponder code switching between emergency and hijacking signals during the incident. The aircraft eventually landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after flying over Jordanian airspace and looping back into Saudi territory. Saudi airport officials said both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital after the landing.
Flydubai later confirmed that an altercation occurred on the flight deck. The airline said on-duty Flydubai crew who were traveling on the aircraft secured the plane and landed it safely at Tabuk. All passengers and crew were safe and accounted for.
Passengers reported hearing screams and seeing blood during the incident, according to Israeli media reports.
One passenger said a pilot had been stabbed and others believed they were in danger of dying during the event according to CNN. Israeli officials later said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and may have tried to crash the aircraft. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a passenger helped overpower the co-pilot after the cockpit door opened.
The incident has raised concerns about cockpit safety and crew conflict on commercial flights. Previous cockpit fights have occurred at airlines including Air France and Jet Airways as well as Iraqi Airways. Flydubai said the reasons and motives behind the event remain unknown pending a formal investigation.
Israel scrambled fighter jets after the aircraft transmitted the unlawful-interference signal.
The Israeli government initially worked to bring the passengers home but Saudi airport officials later said all passengers departed Tabuk on a replacement aircraft. Flydubai confirmed the flight experienced an incident and that it landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Emergency landings caused by crew conflict are rare but not unheard of in aviation history.
IMAGE: Photographer Bahnfrend CC4