Flydubai Flight 1073

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Flydubai Flight 1073
A Boeing 737 MAX 8, similar to the aircraft involved
Occurrence
Date30 September 2026 (2026-09-30)
SummaryIn-flight emergency, diverted
SiteSaudi Arabian airspace, near the Jordanian border; landed in Tabuk
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 737 MAX 8
OperatorFlydubai
IATA flight No.FZ1073
ICAO flight No.FDB1073
Call signSKYDUBAI 1073
RegistrationA6-FKF
Flight originDubai International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DestinationBen Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel
Occupants180
Passengers174
Crew6
Fatalities0
Injuries1+
Survivors180

Flydubai Flight 1073 (FZ1073/FDB1073) was a scheduled international passenger of flight operated by Flydubai from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport. On 30 September 2026, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 broadcast a general emergency code followed by a hijack squawk code, diverted from its flight path, and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets. Israeli officials initially stated that it was a planned hijacking that was prevented.

Incident

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration A6-FKF, departed from Dubai at 7:05 a.m. (GST) carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.[1] While flying near the border between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the aircraft's transponder broadcast squawk code 7700, indicating a general emergency, and shortly thereafter broadcast code 7500, which designates "unlawful interference" or a hijacking.[2] The aircraft turned back into Saudi Arabian airspace; according to public flight tracking data, it rapidly descended from an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet to 17,000 feet in less than a minute.[3][4] Israeli authorities were briefly unable to establish contact with the flight. Communication was restored shortly after, and the plane landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia.[3][2]

Based on initial assessments, videos, and eyewitness accounts from passengers, it appears that a fight broke out between the two pilots. The first officer stabbed the captain and allegedly attempted to crash or hijack the aircraft. Israeli passengers managed to overpower and restrain him, while a group of off-duty pilots who happened to be on board successfully landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.[5]

Pictures of the plane taken after landing showed that its rudder was significantly damaged.[5]

Reactions

Upon receiving the code indicating a hijacking, the Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held a security consultation, and IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir held a situational assessment with the commander of the Air Force and other senior military officials.[1][2] Some Israeli sources said that there was no hijacking, and that the distress signals were likely triggered by a physical altercation between the pilots in the cockpit,[6][3] while others claimed it was an attempted terrorist attack.[7]

In an official statement, Flydubai confirmed that an "incident" had occurred during the flight, noting that the plane landed safely in Tabuk and that all passengers were secure. The airline added that further updates would be provided once verified details became available.[8][9] The company also announced it would send two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to fly the passengers to Israel.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ben Kimon, Elisha; Lifshitz-Kliger, Iris; Eichner, Itamar; Tamari, Liran (30 September 2026). "מכות בין הטייסים: מטוס מדובאי לנתב"ג דיווח על חשש לחטיפה ונחת בסעודיה" [Fistfight between the pilots: A flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport reported a suspected hijacking and landed in Saudi Arabia]. Ynet (in עברית).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fabian, Emanuel (30 September 2026). "Hijacking ruled out as flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that declared emergency lands at Saudi airport". The Times of Israel.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "תוך פחות מדקה המטוס צלל מגובה של 34 אלף רגל לכ־17 אלף רגל: כל מה שידוע עד כה על טיסת "פליי דובאי"" [In less than a minute the plane dived from 34,000 feet to about 17,000 feet: Everything known so far about the Flydubai flight]. Zman Yisrael (in עברית). 30 September 2026.
  4. ↑ "What we know about the flydubai plane incident". The Times of Israel. 30 September 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Copilot subdued after stabbing pilot in alleged attempt to crash plane full of Israelis". The Times of Israel. 30 September 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  6. ↑ Shalev, Tal; Diamond, Jeremy (30 September 2026). "Flight to Israel diverted after pilot broadcasts emergency signal, sources". CNN.
  7. ↑ Cornwell, Alexander; Amichay, Rami; Cornwell, Alexander (30 September 2026). "Israeli officials say diverted flydubai incident may be attempted 'terror attack'". Reuters. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Flydubai flight diverts to Saudi Arabia amid reports of pilot fight". AeroTime. 30 September 2026.
  9. ↑ ""פליי דובאי": לכל הנוסעים שהיו על הטיסה מדובאי לישראל - שלום" ["Flydubai": All passengers on the flight from Dubai to Israel are safe]. Zman Yisrael (in עברית). 30 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv veers off course, lands in Saudi Arabia after hijacking scare". The Jerusalem Post. 30 September 2026.
  11. ↑ Hayashi, Erika (30 September 2026). "Updates on FZ 1073 DXB-TLV on 30 September 2026". FlyDubai.
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