TEL AVIV/DUBAI, September 30 (HS): Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following a violent incident on board. The aircraft transmitted emergency signals, briefly raising concerns of a possible hijacking. The flight later landed safely in Tabuk, and all passengers were reported safe. There were 174 passengers on board, including 27 children. All those on board survived the incident, although both pilots were hospitalised.

Flydubai said an “incident” had occurred on the flight bound for Tel Aviv, following which the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk. According to the airline, the aircraft landed safely and all passengers had been accounted for.

According to media reports, the aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children and more than 150 Israelis. The situation reportedly deteriorated about two hours into the flight when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Israeli passengers and crew members reportedly entered the cockpit and restrained the attacker. A dentist travelling on the flight treated the injured captain, while two additional pilots helped fly the aircraft to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. All passengers were reported safe, although both pilots were hospitalised.

An Israeli official said passengers had also reported hearing screams and seeing blood inside the cockpit. The mother of one passenger told the media that her daughter heard screams on board and saw a man with a knife knock one of the pilots to the floor.

According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft suddenly and rapidly lost altitude during the flight, descending by approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. The aircraft subsequently changed course and headed towards Tabuk.

The aircraft transmitted a standard emergency signal as well as an alert indicating possible unlawful interference, prompting initial concerns of a hijacking. However, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, said the incident was not being treated as a hijacking.

Following the incident, high-level security meetings were held in Israel. The Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets, although they turned back before entering Saudi Arabian airspace. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the situation was “under control” and that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure the passengers’ safe return. Two Israeli officials, citing preliminary assessments, linked the incident to a possible attempted “terrorist attack”.

Conflicting reports have emerged in Israeli media regarding the pilots’ nationalities and the sequence of events. Some reports identified the pilots as nationals of Oman and Saudi Arabia, while others claimed they were Russian and Ukrainian nationals. Flydubai and the relevant authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identities or nationalities of the pilots.

According to officials at Tabuk Airport, both the captain and co-pilot were injured and admitted to hospital. The passengers were provided with necessary assistance and were reported to be safe.

The Israel Airports Authority has established a dedicated waiting and information area for passengers’ families in the Domestic Arrivals Hall of Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport. Families are being provided with updates on the passengers’ condition and arrangements for their onward travel.

Flydubai is arranging another aircraft to transport the passengers from Tabuk to Israel. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the precise sequence of events, the cockpit violence, the emergency signals and the possible motive behind the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar