A Dubai to Tel Aviv Flydubai flight carrying more than 170 passengers, mostly Israeli nationals, was emergency landed to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday sept 30, after a bloody fight in the cockpit left one pilot injured and triggered an emergency hijacking signal.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 incident is now being treated by Israeli authorities as a major security incident and potentially a terror attack, although the investigation is still underway and the airline has warned against premature speculation.
According to Israeli officials cited by Reuters, the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and subsequently attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. Passengers and crew members intervened, while another set of pilots on board eventually took control and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
Co-Pilot Tried to Crash Plane like 9/11!?
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the aircraft transmitted the international emergency transponder code 7500, which indicates a hijacking or unlawful interference.
Flight-tracking data showed an abrupt descent of almost 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to Flightradar24. The aircraft had been flying at around 34,000 feet before rapidly descending to below 17,000 feet. The sudden change triggered an immediate security response, with Israel scrambling fighter jets as the aircraft approached the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later described the incident as a “highly severe security incident”. He said passengers managed to enter the cockpit after the aircraft began descending and helped subdue the alleged attacker.
Netanyahu said one passenger told him that the plane had entered a spin and begun to dive. According to the passenger’s account, passengers and a crew member broke into the cockpit and found the wounded pilot on the floor while the other pilot was allegedly attempting to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.
A second group of pilots who were travelling on the aircraft subsequently entered the cockpit and stabilised the plane.“They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster,” Netanyahu said.
Indian Pilot is Injured
Indian media reports have identified the injured pilot as Smit Machchhar, a former SpiceJet pilot.
According to media report, Machchhar was attacked with a knife by his co-pilot during confrontation.several Pictures circulating online show the pilot covered in blood, although individual images and passenger accounts have not been independently verified.
Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport confirmed that both pilots had been hospitalised after sustaining injuries. The alleged attacker was arrested after the aircraft landed and, according to Netanyahu, is being questioned by Saudi authorities. Israeli officials have identified the suspected attacker as an Omani national.
Why the Incident is Being Treated as Terrorism ?
Initial reports described the incident as a physical altercation between the two pilots. As more information emerged from passengers and Israeli security officials, however, indicate that the possibility of a deliberate attempt to take control of the aircraft and crash it became a major focus of the investigation. Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack based on security assessments and passenger testimony.
A senior Israeli official told Israeli media that the attacker intended to carry out an attack like September 11, 2001 attacks. The airline itself has not confirmed a terrorist motive.
Flydubai said the aircraft had “experienced an incident while en route” and was diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The airline said all passengers were safe and accounted for and cautioned against speculation while the investigation continues.
Passengers Described Screaming and Blood
Passenger accounts have provided a scary picture of what happened inside the aircraft.
One passenger’s relative told Israeli media that the passenger heard screaming and saw a man holding a knife who had forced one of the pilots onto the floor. Other passengers described hearing shouting and sounds of a physical struggle coming from the cockpit before the aircraft suddenly descended.Israeli media also circulated a photograph showing a passenger with a blood-covered shirt. Despite the chaos, passengers were eventually able to land safely after the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk.
Israeli Fighter Jets Scrambled
The emergency signals prompted a significant Israeli security response. The aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal and later sent a signal associated with possible unlawful interference. Israeli fighter aircraft were scrambled as authorities assessed the possibility of a hijacking.
The incident was particularly sensitive because the flight was carrying more than 170 passengers, with more than 100 Israelis on board. After landing in Saudi Arabia, passengers remained at Tabuk airport for several hours before a replacement Flydubai aircraft was arranged to take them to Israel.
Netanyahu said additional security measures would be implemented for flights arriving in Israel. Israeli officials also indicated that the identities of pilots operating flights into Israel could face greater scrutiny following the incident.
A Second Flydubai Diversion Was Mistakenly Reported
The incident was briefly complicated by reports of a second Flydubai flight, FZ1081, apparently changing course while travelling from Dubai toward Tel Aviv. Flight-tracking data initially appeared to suggest that the second aircraft had also turned back toward Dubai, triggering speculation about another emergency.
However, it found out that that there was no second security incident. The apparent route change was attributed to a flight-tracking data glitch. FlightRadar24 later said that a recovery flight was being sent to Tabuk to transport passengers from FZ1073 to Tel Aviv.
Investigation Underway
The exact sequence of events inside the cockpit remains under investigation. Israel’s Transport Ministry said it would conduct a joint investigation with the country’s defence establishment. Saudi authorities are also investigating the attack after taking the suspected co-pilot into custody.
Several key questions remain unanswered, including the precise motive behind the confrontation, how the attacker gained control inside the cockpit, and whether the incident was premeditated.
For now Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a serious security matter. Further findings from the Saudi, Israeli and aviation investigations are expected to establish what happened inside the cockpit and whether the incident was a deliberate attempt to crash the plane…
